Project Persephone's initial development agenda may focus most strongly on the support of existing initiatives in sustainable forestry in these regions, and to help bring the benefits of small hydro to communities favored with nearby cloud forests. The Project will also provide training, tools and access to markets for fine wood-carved craft products.

Equatorial alpine regions also feature [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_forest | cloud forests]].  Cloud forests are a very valuable resource for [[small hydro]], because they precipitate moisture with their leaves, and buffer the flow of water from watersheds with their root systems.  In this way, they both increase the amount of water available for [[small hydro | hydroelectric power]] and store water in ways that permit dams to stay relatively small. A slope stripped of its forest cover by a landslide will have less watershed-buffer value; the landslide might effectively disable a small dam in its path. Remote sensing together with hydrological and ecological data gathering assisted by local peoples should help in determining where forests require the greatest protection.

As one of its longer-range programs, [[Project Persephone]] proposes the use of [[equatorial alpine regions]] for [[projectile space launch]]. The organization aims to help make any such launch infrastructure rely as much as possible on the resources of such regions (including their human resources) to [[sustainability | sustainably]] support the projectile style of launch. Trees are obviously the greatest single source of raw biomass in these regions; trees offer the greatest potential benefits to both local communities for various uses, both new and traditional, and to Project Persephone as a potential chemical feedstock for launch fuel production.

However, up to [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_line | timberline]] altitudes, many equatoral alpine regions feature forests with valuable timber; the timber harvest must somehow be kept sustainable during global climate change, which already exposes some high-altitude forests to new threats. [[Meeting the SPEC]] requires the Project Persephone address these threats responsibly. The Project must find ways to balance the need to support local wood-based livelihoods with the need to preserve and rebuild the resource. To the extent that wood is still an important fuel for locals, R&D on local renewable energy sources for the needed heat, such as [[geothermal energy]] and [[small hydro]], and perhaps the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biogas | biogas]] output from [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anaerobic_digestion | methane digesters]] should help reduce the forestry burden.

One of [[Project Persephone]]'s medium-term goals is to launch remote-sensing satellites in low equatorial orbit, to support efforts to predict disasters, monitor them in progress, and aid in relief efforts. Landslides are one major class of disaster, and these often destroy swathes of forest, in part by burying timber that might otherwise have been sustainably harvested.

[[Project Persephone]] proposes the use of [[equatorial alpine regions]] for [[projectile space launch]] as one of its longer-term goal. The organization aims to rely as much as possible on the resources of such regions (including their human resources) to [[sustainability | sustainably]] support the projectile style of launch. Trees are obviously the greatest single source of raw biomass in these regions; trees offer the greatest potential benefits to both local communities for various uses, both new and traditional, and to Project Persephone as a potential feedstock for launch fuel production.

However, up to [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_line | timberline]] altitudes, many equatoral alpine regions feature forests with valuable timber; the timber harvest must somehow be kept sustainable during coming climate change, which already exposes some high-altitude forests to new threats. [[Meeting the SPEC]] requires the Project Persephone address these threats responsibly. The Project must find ways to balance the need to support local wood-based livelihoods with the need to preserve and rebuild the resource. To the extent that wood is still an important fuel for locals, R&D on local renewable energy sources for the needed heat, such as [[geothermal energy]] and [[small hydro]], and perhaps the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biogas | biogas]] output from [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anaerobic_digestion | methane digesters]] should help reduce the forestry burden.

One of the Project's near-term goals is to launch remote-sensing satellites in low equatorial orbit, for support of efforts to predict disasters, monitor them in progress, and support relief efforts. Landslides are one major class of disaster, and these often destroy swathes of forest, in part by burying timber that might otherwise have been sustainably harvested.

Equatorial alpine regions also feature [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_forest | cloud forests]].  Cloud forests are a very valuable resource for [[small hydro]], because they precipitate moisture with their leaves, and buffer the flow of water from watersheds with their root systems.  In this way, they both increase the amount of water available for hydroelectric power and store water in ways that permit dams to stay relatively small. A slope stripped of its forest cover by a landslide will have less watershed-buffer value; the landslide might effectively disable a small dam in its path. Remote sensing together with hydrological and ecological data gathering assisted by local peoples should help in determining where forests require the greatest protection.

Project Persephone's initial development agenda may focus most strongly on the support of existing initiatives in sustainable forestry in these regions, and to help bring the benefits of small hydro to communities favored with nearby cloud forests. The Project will also provide training, tools and access to markets for fine wood-carved craft products.

Equatorial alpine regions also feature [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_forest | cloud forests]].  Cloud forests are a very valuable resource for [[small hydro]], because they precipitate moisture with their leaves, and buffer the flow of water from watersheds with their root systems.  In this way, they both increase the amount of water available for hydroelectric power and store water in ways that permit dams to stay relatively small.

Project Persephone's initial development agenda may focus most strongly on the support of existing initiatives in sustainable forestry in these regions, and to help bring the benefits of small hydro to communities favored with nearby cloud forests.

[[Project Persephone]] proposes the use of [[equatorial alpine regions]] for [[projectile space launch]].  The organization aims to rely as much as possible on the resources of such regions (including their human resources) to [[sustainability | sustainably]] support the projectile style of launch. Trees are obviously the greatest single source of raw biomass in these regions; trees offer the greatest potential benefits to both local communities for various uses, both new and traditional, and to Project Persephone as a potential feedstock for launch fuel production.

However, up to [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_line | timberline]] altitudes, many equatoral alpine regions feature forests with valuable timber; the harvesting of this timber must somehow be kept sustainable during coming climate change, which is already exposing some high-altitude forests to new threats. [[Meeting the SPEC]] requires addressing these threats responsibly. Project Persephone must not add to these threats, balancing the need to support local wood-based livelihoods with the need to preserve and rebuild the resource. To the extent that wood is still an important fuel for locals, substituting other renewable energy sources for the needed heat, such as [[geothermal energy]] and [[small hydro]], and perhaps the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biogas | biogas]] output from [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anaerobic_digestion | methane digesters]] should help reduce the forestry burden.

These regions also feature [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_forest | cloud forests]].  Cloud forests are a very valuable resource for [[small hydro]], because they precipitate moisture with their leaves, and buffer the flow of water from watersheds with their root systems.  In this way, they both increase the amount of water available for hydroelectric power and store it in ways that permit keeping dams relatively small.

Project Persephone's initial development agenda may focus most strongly on supporting existing initiatives in sustainable forestry in these regions, and bringing the benefits of small hydro to communities favored with nearby cloud forests.

These regions also feature [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_forest | cloud forests]].  Cloud forests are a very valuable resource for [[small hydro]], because they precipitate moisture with their leaves, and buffer the flow of water from watersheds with their root systems.  In this way, they both increase the amount of water available for hydroelectric power, but also store it in ways that permit keeping dams relatively small.

[[Project Persephone]] proposes the use of [[equatorial alpine regions]] for [[projectile space launch]].  The organization aims to rely as much as possible on the local resources of such regions (human labor, both physical and mental; runoff water; soil nutrients and the ecosystems sustained by them; and altitude itself) to [[sustainability | sustainably]] support the projectile style of launch.  Trees are obviously the greatest single component of biomass in these regions; trees offer the greatest potential benefits to both local communities and to Project Persephone, but they are also under considerable threat from [[climate change]] and human overconsumption of timber.

Up to [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_line | timberline]] altitudes, many such regions feature forests with valuable timber.  The harvesting of this timber must be kept sustainable during coming climate change, which is already exposing some high-altitude forests to new threats. Project Persephone must not add to these threats, balancing the need to support wood-based livelihoods with the need to preserve the resource. To the extent that wood is still an important fuel for locals, substituting other renewable energy sources for the needed heat, such as [[geothermal energy]] and [[small hydro]], and perhaps the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biogas | biogas]] output from [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anaerobic_digestion | methane digesters]] should help reduce the burden on forests.

Up to timber-line altitudes, many such regions feature forests with valuable timber.  The harvesting this timber must be kept sustainable during coming climate change, which is already exposing some high-altitude forests to new threats.  Project Persephone must not add to these threats, balancing the need to support wood-based livelihoods with the need to preserve the resource. To the extent that wood is still an important fuel, substituting other renewable energy sources for the needed heat, such as [[geothermal energy]] and [[small hydro]], should help reduce the burden on forests.

Up to timber-line altitudes, many such regions feature forests with valuable timber.  The harvesting this timber must be kept sustainable during coming climate change, which is already exposing some high-altitude forests to new threats.  Project Persephone must not add to these threats, balancing the need to support wood-based livelihoods with the need to preserve the resource.

[[Project Persephone]] proposes the use of [[equatorial alpine regions]] for [[projectile space launch]].  The organization aims to use the resources of such regions (human labor, both physical and mental; runoff water; soil nutrients and the ecosystems sustained by them; and altitude itself) to sustainably support the projectile style of launch as much as possible.  Trees are obviously the greatest single component of biomass in these regions; trees offer the greatest potential benefits to both local communities and to Project Persephone, but they are also under considerable threat from [[climate change]] and human overconsumption of timber.

Up to timber-line altitudes, many such regions feature forests with valuable timber.  The harvesting this timber must be kept sustainable during coming climate change, which is already exposing some high-altitude forests to new threats.

These regions also feature cloud forests.  Cloud forests are a very valuable resource for [[small hydro]], because they precipitate moisture with their leaves, and buffer the flow of water from watersheds with their root systems.  In this way, they both increase the amount of water available for hydroelectric power, but also store it in ways that permit keeping dams relatively small.

!! What goes up must first flow down

[[Project Persephone]] proposes the use of [[equatorial alpine regions]] for [[projectile space launch]].  The organization aims to use the resources of such regions (human labor, both physical and mental; runoff water; soil nutrients and the ecosystems sustained by them; and altitude itself) to sustainably support the projectile style of launch as much as possible.  Trees are obviously the greatest single component of biomass in these regions; trees offer the greatest potential benefits to both local communities and to Project Persephone, but they are also under considerable threat from climate change and human encroachment.

Up to timber-line altitudes, many such regions feature forests with valuable timber.  The harvesting this timber must be kept sustainable during coming [[climate change]], which is already exposing some high-altitude forests to new threats.

[[Project Persephone]] proposes the use of [[equatorial alpine regions]] for [[projectile space launch]].  The organization aims to use the resources of such regions (human labor both physical and mental, water, soil nutrients and ecosystems, and altitude itself) to support that style of launch in a sustainable manner, to the benefit of local communities.  Forests are obviously the greatest component of biomass in these regions; they offer the greatest potential benefits to both local communities and to Project Persephone, but they are also under considerable threat from climate change and human encroachment.