Study Suggests , Old Growth Forests , Could Store Huge Amounts of Carbon.
According to a new study, forest conservation
and restoration could be a key part of
Earth's efforts to tackle the climate crisis.
'The Guardian' reports that scientists found that
allowing existing trees to grow old could remove
226 gigatons of carbon from the atmosphere.
The amount is roughly equivalent
to almost 50 years of the
United States emission levels for 2022. .
However, the same study warns that mass
monoculture tree-planting and offsetting
efforts will not help forests thrive in the future. .
The team's research, published on November 13
in the journal 'Nature,' is part of a collaboration
between hundreds of leading ecologists.
The team estimate that about 61% of forests' carbon
consuming potential could be achieved by protecting
existing forests and allowing them to mature. .
The study suggests that the remaining
39% could be realized by restoring forests
that have already been cleared by humans.
The study suggests that the remaining
39% could be realized by restoring forests
that have already been cleared by humans.
Most of the world’s forests are highly
degraded. In fact, many people have
never been in one of the few old
growth forests that remain on Earth, Lidong Mo, Lead author of the study, via 'The Guardian'.
'The Guardian' reports that the researchers highlight
the importance of biodiversity in allowing forests to
achieve their potential to help fight climate change.
It can be achieved by
millions of local communities,
Indigenous communities, farmers and
foresters who promote biodiversity. , Tom Crowther, Head of the Crowther Lab
at ETH Zurich, via 'The Guardian'.
It could be agroforestry for
cacao, coffee or banana, natural
regeneration, rewilding or creating
habitat corridors. They’re successful
when nature becomes the economic
choice. It’s not easy but it’s doable, Tom Crowther, Head of the Crowther Lab
at ETH Zurich, via 'The Guardian'