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GLOBAL TREES
Andre Erasmus Reporting
URGENT NEED FOR AN INVESTOR TO HELP TO GET SOUTH AFRICA PLANTED WITH TREES
Over the past few years there has been a massive positive mind shift about our life giving earth. Previously it was all about advancement and development and no thought was ever given about the damaging effects thereof nor the consequences or the price we have to pay.
I have the greatest respect for all the influential, rich and famous people taking a stance on global warming, carbon dumping into the atmosphere and the deforestation of our planet. Shouldn't’t we also be so brave and do the same. Why can’t you speak your mind when you see when in your community that on a micro scale wrongful deeds are being done and we turn a blind eye, so as not to get involved. I have a surprise for those people Mother Nature has made you involved from the very first breath of air that you took. YOU ARE INVOLVED in this creation. We as inhabitants of this planet have a duty to look after that what we have been given to look after.
For every person walking this Earth, you must plant 28 trees each year to sustain your carbon footprint. What about our massive manufacturing and high pollution industries polluting the air, who is taking responsibility for that.
The global deforestation that’s taking place is far greater than the normal person could ever grasp to imagine or the effects or price mankind is paying for that. The monster fuelling that well oiled machine is the greed of man to take and not put anything back. It is our duty of this living generation to educate the next generation on a daily basis to care for our fragile environment. Our children will be the custodians of this precious planet after we pass on and if not taught the ways of nature imagine the effects thereof. We all are to blame for this carnage playing off today however we can turn this massacre around by the education of the young and start replanting and replacing that what we have cut down.
It has become my life’s mission to be a dedicated reforestation prophet and implementer of reforestation of indigenous trees in our beautiful country South Africa. Starting with my immediate surroundings and gradually influencing every person I make contact with in the possible 26 sensitive regions to do the same. We do not plant a tree today and want to sit in its shade tomorrow, we plant trees for our children to enjoy and the generations that will follow.
There is a guestimate by all highly qualified concerned parties and institutions that there is about 10 Trillion trees shortfall in our ecology to sustain our present day carbon footprint. As you are aware, according to the KYOTO Protocol, our Government was forced to purchase Carbon Credits at a very high premium in South America to offset our carbon emissions and be accepted in the global greening forum.
By looking on the net you will find that the whole manufacturing and production industries and all Government Departments with all their local Municipalities have become very aware of the Carbon Footprint effect. From the Motor Industry to the Textile, Sugar Mills, Paper mills, metal production plants, Mines and Fuel Production Industry to the Electricity generating plants have realised that they will have to drastically reform their mindset and take a very active part in the reforestation of our country.
As you can realise the whole project is not a quick fix to our ecological problem but a very long process of dedication by thousands of people that will have to be involved from the Limpopo down to the Cape Flats. I envisage having about 28 germination plants employing up to 1000 people across the country and it is possible to germinate 85 000 000 seedlings a year to be planted within a 10 year time frame.
The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago.
The next best time is right now.
“Chinese Proverb”
I PROVISIONAL STOCKPILE
Presently I have approximately 1 000 000 seeds of each of the following trees that will be ready for germination in September 2009:
Paperbark
Umbrella Thorn
Fever tree
Monkey Thorn
Natal Mahogany
Baobab.
The role of trees in offsetting your carbon emissions
Trees are green machines that act as natural filters of our air. Through the process of photosynthesis they absorb carbon dioxide (a key GHG and principle contributor to global warming) from the atmosphere and store it in their trunk, branches, leaves, roots, soil and foliage, while releasing oxygen back out.
Whereas deforestation, degradation and poor forest management reduce carbon storage in forests, sustainable management, planting, and rehabilitation of forests can increase carbon sequestration. In fact the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation states “global carbon retention resulting from reduced deforestation, increased forest regrowth and more agro-forestry and plantations could make up for about 15% of carbon emissions from fossil fuels over the next 50 years (2006).”
Not only are trees an effective means for absorbing and storing the carbon you emit, they have far reaching benefits that extend well beyond that of filtering the air. Sustainable managed forests and urban forestry projects have multiple environmental and socio-economic functions important at the global, national and local scales, and play a vital part in sustainable development. Forests are sources of wood products. They help regulate local and regional rainfall. And forests are crucial sources of food, medicine, clean drinking water, and immense recreational, aesthetic, and spiritual benefits for millions of people.
What is Carbon Footprint?
Your carbon footprint is the direct effect your actions and lifestyle have on the environment in terms of carbon dioxide emissions. Probably the biggest contributors to your footprint are your travel needs, and your electricity demands at home. However, all your actions have a direct or indirect impact, including your diet, and the clothes you wear. We know cars, buses and aeroplanes burn gasoline, public transport may use gasoline and electricity and your home uses a significant portion of your personal electricity needs that generally comes from fossil fuel burning power plants. All these actions contribute to accelerating global warming and climate change.
What is CARBON CREDITS?
Africa’s carbon potential is still massively underexploited, with a world market share of less than 3%. South Africa aims to facilitate and stimulate the sector by providing an interactive platform for buyers of carbon credits, service providers and project developers. The website includes general information on climate change and carbon finance as well as country-specific information on the investment climate and carbon finance in South Africa, in a form that is accessible for everyone but still valuable for experienced players in the market. It also features an innovative matchmaking facility to assist project developers in finding financial partners and their counterparts in sourcing carbon projects in Africa.
The introduction of the Kyoto Protocol (KP) has created a market in carbon credits—the actual reductions in greenhouse gas emissions achieved by organisations that undertake emissions reduction projects. Businesses in developing countries like South Africa can now sell these credits to entities in developed countries at a market-determined price.
Whatever the source or location, a carbon credit is always equal to one tonne of carbon dioxide (or its equivalent in other greenhouse gases) avoided or reduced by a project activity.
South African organisations can only create carbon credits by developing projects through Kyoto’s Clean Development Mechanism (or CDM; see section 3). Credits from these projects are called Certified Emissions Reductions or CERs. Another type of carbon credit is the EU Allowance or EUA, credits granted to European businesses as part of their cap-and-trade system.
CERs are fungible with several other kinds of carbon credit, although the extent of fundability varies widely depending on who is buying and what other types of credit are being substituted. For example, in the EU, credits are created by companies that have managed to bring their emissions below a certain level—based on “allowances” granted by their national governments. The EU allows companies that have exceeded their allowance to make up the shortfall by either purchasing allowances from other companies with a surplus, or by buying other kinds of carbon credits such as CERs. However, many EU national governments have imposed limits on the percentage of substitutability of CERs for EUAs, typically around 25% of the total requirement.
Understanding the carbon trading system and its potential benefits for project financing is increasingly important to South African company’s intent on enhancing their sustainability credentials and wishing to participate in this global market. The sections below provide answers to some of the basic questions being asked about the carbon market by businesses and financial institutions.
FOCUS ON AFRICA
The Kyoto Protocol is the main instrument of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, intended to bring about reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from its signatories for the period 2008-2012. The greenhouse gases regulated are: Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Nitrous oxide, Hydroflurocarbons, Petroflurocarbons and Sulphur Hexafloride. The Protocol came into force on the 16 February 2005.
Developed countries agree under the Protocol to curb emissions by varying amounts, but generally the reduction is between 5-8% of their emissions in base year 1990. All parties submit annual inventories of their greenhouse gas emissions. Parties can also trade emissions so that countries that fail to meet targets can buy credits from a country that reduced its emissions more than agreed to. South Africa is a signatory, but as it is a developing nation it does not have to reduce its emissions. It can however partake in another emission trading schemes which allow developed countries to invest in projects that reduce emissions in developing countries (Clean Development Mechanism).
Critics of the Protocol note that some industrialised developing countries, including South Africa, China and India, are nearing developed parties emissions and therefore unless these large emitters voluntarily reduce their emissions, the effect on total emissions may be negligible. This is one of the reasons why the United States has refused to sign the Protocol, even though it is by far the largest emitter of greenhouse gases.
STRATEGY & IMPLEMENTATION SUMMARY
Reducing your emissions is a vital part of combating climate change. We encourage everyone to be aware of their energy usage and its effects, and take steps to reduce this. What remains can be offset through our Carbon Free programme.
By being more energy efficient at home, you can reduce your emissions and lower your energy bills by more than 30%.
Adjust your air conditioner and heater thermostat when you go out and shut down your system when you are away for extended periods.
Turn off and unplug stereos, radios, TVs, and DVDs when you leave for holidays. These appliances have a stand-by function that uses energy even when they are turned off.
Close doors to unused rooms trapping heating or cooling in rooms in use.
Consider switching to compact fluorescent lighting. Compact fluorescent light bulbs use about 75 per cent less energy than incandescent bulbs.
Insulating your walls and ceilings can save 20 to 30 percent of home heating bills and reduce CO2 emissions by as much as 1 tonne per year.
Clean all of your heating and cooling appliances, making sure they are dust free. Energy is lost when heating units have to work harder to draw air through dirty filters. Ensuring that your air conditioner filter is clean can save 5 percent of the energy used.
Wash your dishes manually, or ensure your dishwasher is full when you run it. Allow your dishes to air dry, by not using the heat in the drying cycle can save 20 percent of your dishwasher's total electricity use.
Where possible walk or bike to your destination. Fuel use through transport constitutes a large proportion of total UK emissions.
Recycle glass, metals, plastics and paper.
Plant shade trees and paint your house a light colour if you live in a warm climate or a dark colour if you live in a cold climate.
Turn your refrigerator down.
Select the most energy-efficient models when you replace your old appliances. Look for the Energy Star Label - your assurance that the product saves energy and prevents pollution.
Slow down and drive sensibly. The faster and more aggressive you drive, the more petrol your car uses.
I am urgently looking for an investor that shares my concern to invest in the future of the world.I would like to germinate about 2 million seedlings for the year Sept 2009, that will be ready to replant December 2010 with a potential income of about R 9o million($ 11.2m). I require an amount of R1.5m to start off the germinating plant and the returns are well in favour of any investor. For the following year 2010-2011 I will germinate about 4 million trees with a potential income of R180m ($22.5m) I have property to the value of R6m as security to offer. I have a complete business proposal available should one be required.
So I invite everybody that shares my concern with this massive problem assist me in getting tree planted so that our children may have a better life and be able to sit under the trees that we have planted today.
Contact me and we can make a difference
bigtreeplanter@gmail.com
Andre Erasmus
+27 82 335 3333
