Comment Log Display

Comments on AB 32 Scoping Plan: Carbon Sequestration:
To sequester more carbon, I am recommending the planting of
Mesquite Trees in the grasslands and vacant land of Central Valley
and Eastern CA.   Mesquite trees can sequester up to 8 tons of
carbon per hectare annually.  They are drought resistant with roots
450 feet deep. They are most productive with decent rainfall or
irrigation, but Mesquites can crop on as little as 4” of rainfall
annually.    Mesquites are Nitrogen-fixing, therefore they don’t
require nitrogen fertilizer which requires an input of energy and
the burning of fuel. (from Permaculture Activist, May 2011
issue,article: Stabilizing the Climate with Permanent Agriculture
by Eric Toensmeier & Dave Jacke) Mesquite pods are edible and a
good source of potassium, zinc, calcium, and magnesium and is a
sweetener. Since it is a traditional staple food of Native
Americans, they would be motivated to help plant it. This tree
should not be planted over aquifers that are polluted with fracking
wastewater. My Second choice for Central Valley is the Acacia tree
because it loses its leaves in the rainy season so crops planted
underneath can get sun 
For Northern California and the mountains, I would recommended
planting sugar maple trees (Acer Saccharum) because they could
accumulate 1300 Kg/year/ha (from Jonathan Brooks of Hope College,
Holland, MI.)  Some trees sequester three times as much carbon as
others. A Hazelnut & Chestnut hybrid with 9 nuts per burr from
Badgersett Research Corp is good. The Black Walnut can be used
where people do not want a lot of weeds.
Near the Southern Coast of CA, passion fruit trees would be better,
since they thrive in tropical climates.
( To be continued later)