Protecting Existing Forests Could Remove Billions of Tonnes of Carbon

  • 📰 newscientist
  • ⏱ Reading Time:
  • 35 sec. here
  • 7 min. at publisher
  • 📊 Quality Score:
  • News: 34%
  • Publisher: 51%

Environment News

Forests,Carbon,Climate Change

Protecting existing forests so they grow to maturity could theoretically remove as much as 228 billion tonnes of carbon from the air, according to a team made up of hundreds of researchers. Critics say achieving this level of carbon absorption is unlikely.

Protecting existing forests so they grow to maturity could theoretically remove as much as 228 billion tonnes of carbon from the air, according to a team made up of hundreds of researchers. This is equivalent to removing around a third of the carbon humans have added to the atmosphere to date, but critics say it is unlikely we could actually achieve this level of carbon absorption .

The finding will fuel a heated debate over the role of trees in mitigating climate change, which was ignited by a 2019 study overstated this potential by as much as five times by counting areas like deserts where growing trees would be impractical or by failing to account for other factors, such as fire., which can have disastrous effects for biodiversity and local people even as they store carbon. Crowther says the emphasis on tree-planting “massively oversimplified” the message and was damaging. “This scientific controversyIn an attempt to move beyond the controversy, Crowther and more than 200 colleagues took another look at the carbon storage potential of Earth’s forest

Forests Carbon Climate Change Carbon Absorption Controversy

 

Thank you for your comment. Your comment will be published after being reviewed.
Please try again later.
We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:

 /  🏆 541. in US

United States Latest News, United States Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Forests with multiple tree species are 70% more effective as carbon sinks than monoculture forests, study findsTo slow the effects of climate change, conserve biodiversity, and meet the sustainable development goals, replanting trees is vital. Restored forests store carbon within the forest's soil, shrubs, and trees. Mixed forests are especially effective at carbon storage, as different species with complementary traits can increase overall carbon storage.
Source: physorg_com - 🏆 388. / 55 Read more »

'Alien' wasps thriving in tropical forests, study findsResearchers say they have discovered a high diversity of Darwin wasps in a tropical rainforest in Brazil, wasps which were previously thought to thrive more in cooler habitats.
Source: physorg_com - 🏆 388. / 55 Read more »

Southern Alaska's national forests key to meeting climate and conservation goals, study showsAnalyses of U.S. national forests led by Oregon State University scientists shows that increased protections for two Alaskan forests is a key to meeting climate and biodiversity goals.
Source: physorg_com - 🏆 388. / 55 Read more »

A new kind of trade deal could help protect the world's tropical forestsHistorically, trade liberalization has been bad news for the world's tropical forests. As wealthy nations' appetite for imported agricultural goods like beef and soy has exploded, deforestation in countries such as Brazil has surged.
Source: physorg_com - 🏆 388. / 55 Read more »

New database unifies the information on damage to European forests over the last 60 yearsThe University of Córdoba is participating in the creation of the first database that harmonizes the recording of disturbances caused by insects and diseases in forests in eight European countries by combining remote sensing, satellite images and field...
Source: physorg_com - 🏆 388. / 55 Read more »

Broncos unveil plans for $176 million state-of-the-art training facility at their existing campusThe Denver Broncos are planning to build a $176 million state-of-the-art training complex and headquarters on the site of their existing campus in suburban Denver. The project will take two years and ground will be broken in the spring.
Source: AP - 🏆 728. / 51 Read more »