Tree Planting Far From 'Pointless', Researchers Argue
by Treehugger Interns on 12.23.06
Last week we reported here on new research that suggests planting trees may not always have the climate-cooling effects that many would expect. The authors of this study have since expressed concern that they may be being misreported in some sections of the media, and insist that they have not been denigrating tree planting overall.
In a letter to the Guardian, which we unfortunately cannot find on their website, Ken Caldeira of the Carnegie Institute put forward the following clarification:
“I was aghast to see our study reported under the headline “Planting Trees to Save the Planet is Pointless, Say Ecologists” (December 15). Indeed, our study found that preserving and restoring tropical forests is doubly important, as they cool the earth by removing the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and by helping produce cooling clouds. We did find that preserving and restoring forests outside the tropics does little or nothing to help slow climate change, but nevertheless these forests are a critical component of the earth’s biosphere and great urgency should be placed on restoring them.”
He goes on to argue that stopping climate change will require great steps in developing renewable sources of power and, possibly, nuclear energy, but he also insists that “we must concurrently take action to preserve our forests so that we have an environment worth preserving.” We certainly won’t argue with that! [Written by: Sami Grover]
i hope this recent controversy about forests vs carbonsinks vs global warming gets cleared up. carbon credits are coming and the sooner we can clear up any roadblocks for that process, the better.
ecosystems across the planet are far too diverse to be lumped into one statement like 'they cause or cure global warming'. its clear that many of the soils under forests are poor so they are suspect as carbon sinks unless they are standing (or furniture).
please, please. we need more ecologists solving our environmental issues. an army of them...
Ken, and others still miss the point I'm afraid. The issue is that his research shows it is not important for climate change to plant northern forests, while others have found that northern forests do provide CO2 sequestration, on an unprecedented time scale. It is a matter of looking at more then just one scientists point of view or myopic concentration. He is right, that we should maintain our ecosystems, and others are way off the mark saying we should cut down forests...but it is very important that we try to understand how the systems of our climate actually operate, and not follow simple models.
Weaksauce I've planted close to 200,000 trees and they weren't to save the planet although perhaps that a side effect. I generally plant to make money and to make sure I have toilet paper in 60 years when I'm in a nursing home with destroyed knees and hands.