Carbocene Carbon Drawdown Fund

(for more information visit www.carbocene.org)

Hello, I'm Patrick Mellor, and I am asking for support to enable me to continue valuable work in biological carbon dioxide removal and ecological restoration of degraded land. For the last 5 years I have been working to create and grow trees with faster photosynthesis, and to slow the decomposition of wood. These trees pull carbon from the atmosphere faster than others, and when managed correctly will hold it for longer, while rapidly producing wood and shade.

The trees can also decontaminate industrial waste sites, and grow in extremely challenging circumstances. One of the projects involving them is the remediation of the banks of the Los Angeles river, at Taylor Yard (the site in the picture), historically a locomotive turnaround station and so highly contaminated with diesel leachate.

We have approval to plant 2 acres of this land with these trees in the next year, but in order to do this will need to propagate 1000 trees. Hybrid aspen (Populus tremula x alba) is a deciduous tree and goes dormant between November and March, but can be kept growing over winter if in greenhouse conditions, with a little supplemental lighting to extend the photoperiod.

Last Fall, with the help of donors and friends we were able to level a hillside and build a 12X22 foot greenhouse with lighting and drainage. We now have close to 200 trees propagating. However, the fixed costs of the site include rental (and responsibility for part of a mortgage on the property), utilities, labor and consumables. In order to keep the project going, we need funding as soon as possible to continue paying the mortgage and retain the use of a highly effective propagation and research greenhouse.

Many thanks!

Patrick

Carbocene Industries


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