This diagram from the EPA demonstrates the principal elements in the earth’s carbon cycle. In general, control of the cycle rests in limiting emissions and absorbing carbon. Recent history has shown that relying on emission control is a doubtful process. In addition, of the three carbon sinks – the oceans, soils and vegetation, only vegetation represents an active opportunity for accelerating the absorption process.

That means the primary method for reducing green-house-gasses (GHG) must be an increase in the natural photosynthesis process. Recent satellite images by NOAA confirm that significant reductions in photosynthesis result in higher levels of atmospheric CO2 and vice versa. With the current parts-per-million increase of CO2 greater than two per year, the need to increase photosynthesis is urgent.

Unfortunately there is no direct method of measuring levels of photosynthesis. Instead, scientists must use the indirect method of measuring vegetative biomass as a way to determine how much carbon has been eliminated from the atmosphere. At present, it appears that the ratio of sequestration to atmospheric reduction is 1:1. So, an increase of one pound of dry biomass means that one pound of carbon has been removed from the atmosphere.

Therefore an effective sequestration measurement process must compare dry biomass between vegetation samples whose only difference is that one was treated with a photosynthesis enhancer and one wasn’t.

The EPA states that the current 2 PPM annual increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide is the direct result of an excess 3.3 billion metric tons of carbon being generated by anthropogenic sources. The EPA further demonstrates that the use of “standard” photosynthesis processes is – to put it optimistically - daunting. For example, removing that much carbon would require the planting of over 76 billion extra ten year old trees or the creation of 680 million acres of pine forests, an area equal to 1/3 the land mass of the United States.

Clearly this requires a new technology that more fully utilizes the land area currently allocated to agriculture – estimated at roughly 1.1 billion acres worldwide. If a process could develop enough additional photosynthesis to generate three extra tons of biomass per acre, the excess carbon would be fully absorbed.

EcoVerdance feels that the introduction of technology to provide this additional photosynthesis should be the primary and immediate rapid reaction methodology for the world.