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On 8th December 2008 the Carbon Grazing team officially launched the book "Carbon Grazing: The Missing Link".  The book was launched  by the renowned scientist Dr John Williams from the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists . Other speakers included Mr Neil Judd the new CEO of the South West Natural Resource Management group as well as the author, Alan Lauder.

An enthusiastic and supportive group gathered in the Gold Mirror Room of Brisbane City Hall, which was generously provided by Hon Campbell Newman, Lord Mayor of Brisbane. The launch was attended by representatives from industry, government, the scientific community, catchment authorities as well as other interested parties.

The support from the Wentworth Group indicates great synergies between their goals and the principles being expounded in our publication. These synergies are evidenced by the one word "...awesome..." as quoted by one of the Wentworth Group after reading "Carbon Grazing: The Missing Link".

Another scientist has made the following comments after reading the book,  "...Congratulations. You have synthesised a wealth of scientific knowledge with your own acute observations and practical knowledge. Your book should be essential reading for every grazier in pastoral Australia...". Dr Kenneth Hodgkinson Research Fellow CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems.

The launch comes soon after our poster paper presentation at the Australian Rangelands Conference 2008 in Charters Towers, where the poster below won "Best Poster Paper of the Conference in the Open section" (see below) 

Since the original methane discussion paper was released in September 2007 the author Alan Lauder has spoken at a range of events throughout Queensland and New South Wales.  The latest of which was as keynote speaker at a Queensland Grazing Symposium held in Cairns and hosted by the QLD Regional NRM Groups Collective.

"Carbon Grazing: The Missing Link" has now been released as a hard copy publication with copies of the book now available.

This book provides a comprehensive explanation of all the principles that need to be understood to achieve Carbon Grazing. It was written with the purpose of being relevant to rural producers, scientists and decision makers, be they in Government or other funding bodies. It is a big picture systems approach to all the environmental and economic issues that confront rural producers and the rest of society. Carbon Grazing has specific relevance for adapting to climate change and worsening drought. Carbon management has always been important for rural producers, but with climate change, it is going to be even more important. It is carbon that provides the landscape with increased resilience. Grain growers have been alerted that they are likely to hear more about "farming carbon" over the next few years. However, carbon is just as important to grazing as it is to cropping, which is why Carbon Grazing has come into being.

The Carbon Grazing^® approach insists that solutions, as well as being profitable for rural producers, must also meet the expectations of the other societal stakeholders. Understanding that the greenhouse outcomes of rural production actually reflect the financial efficiency of that enterprise is one such example.

We are researching, reviewing and trialling various systems based approaches to better understand a range of issues including:

• Putting carbon into perspective; 
• The role of carbon;
• Energy follows carbon;
• Structural role of carbon;
• Water follows carbon;
• Nutrients follow carbon;
• How plants function;
• How ruminant animals function and the role of "green pick";
• The four types of plants and their role;
• The carbon: nitrogen ratio;
• Is pasture rest TIME or TIMING; (conference paper available)
• The Carbon Grazing pasture principle;
• Techniques for pasture spelling;
• Carbon Grazing reduces Methane; (discussion paper available)
• What global warming means for farmers and how to adapt; and
• Saltbush's role in Carbon Grazing.

The broader community, at this stage, is not fully aware of all aspects of the greenhouse debate. There is a lack of community awareness of the role agriculture can play in offsetting the greenhouse emissions of industry. However, there is an emerging understanding on how agriculture can reduce it's own greenhouse footprint. Carbon Grazing is well positioned to progress this debate. A systems based approach, including all of the issues above, is necessary to ensure long term sustainability and profitability.

So far the broader discussion on greenhouse solutions has focused on planting trees. However, did you know the soil contains more carbon than all the plants, trees and the atmosphere combined? Soil carbon can be increased through changed management. Planting trees to store carbon costs money and may not always be the best option.