I believe you are right, and with coral bleaching it can only increase the problem!
On Tue, January 15, 2008 4:38 am, William Silvert wrote: > Although David is correct about long-term carbon budgets, this too is an > oversimplification. Biomass is a form of carbon sequestration, and when > forests are cut down to develop biofuel plantations, as is happening in > Indonesia and elsewhere, a lot of carbon is removed and ultimately gets > into > atmospheric CO2. Furthermore much biofuel production is energy-intensive, > perhaps the worst example being the growth of corn in the US where much > energy goes into the production of fertilizers and pesticides, as well as > irrigation. And of course there are other environmental costs in addition > to > energy. > > So far as I am aware, the only significant forms of carbon sequestration > are > biomass and carbonates -- am I wrong about this? Maintenance of high > forest > biomass can help, and as for carbonates, I think the main mechanism is > through creation of calcium carbonate by marine organisms, which we can't > do > much about. Perhaps someone has better information, but it seems to me > that > it is highly desirable both to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and > to > promote conservation of high plant biomass. > > Bill Silvert > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "David Bryant" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU> > Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 10:24 PM > Subject: Re: ESA Press Release: Nation's Ecological Scientists weigh in on > biofuels > > >> This statement that biofuels are combustables, and therefore give off >> CO2, is a commonly promoted oversimplification, oft stated by less- >> than-knowledgeable reporters. The carbon in biofuels WAS in the >> atmosphere last winter/growing season (depending on your latitude) >> and therefore biofuels are technically C neutral from the perspective >> of the C Cycle. Just like the rain/snow that falls on us today was >> in the ocean days/weeks before and does not contribute to the sea >> surface level rise. > Malcolm L. McCallum Assistant Professor of Biology Editor Herpetological Conservation and Biology http://www.herpconbio.org [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
