> if you biochar fallen trees and litter, and then bury it, it stays sequestered for a long time.
> It also improves the soil long term - particularly in sandy soils it helps water retention.
> Obviously this is much more work that just planting and forgetting though.
If we used cross-laminated timber [1] to construct our buildings instead of concrete, there would be an economical incentive to keep a lot of timber forests around. For additional carbon-negativity (and soil quality!) the timber industry could be required to biochar and bury its litter. This way, without too much government coercion, maybe our building frenzy [2] could end up being carbon negative?
Much like modern diesel engines that make (polluted) air clean(er) [3].
It also improves the soil long term - particularly in sandy soils it helps water retention.
Obviously this is much more work that just planting and forgetting though.