The key message coming out of new research is that we should be planting trees in order to make a dramatic impact on climate change. The study discovered that the Earth has an area the size of the US available for planting, and filling it with trees would reduce the amount of carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere by as much a 25%.
Trees naturally absorb carbon dioxide as part of photosynthesis, and release oxygen as a result. Whilst some have said the research sounds a bit far fetched, the researchers themselves have said that planting trees presents the most effective solution to climate change that we have at this moment in time.
The scientists behind the research, from ETH-Zurich in Switzerland, examined a global dataset of observations covering 78,000 forests and then developed a predictive model to map the global potential of tree cover. They found that the planet could realistically support an additional 2.2 billion acres of trees. The bulk of available land is in Russia, US, Canada, Australia, Brazil and China.
Professor Tom Crowther, senior author of the study, said, "Our study shows clearly that forest restoration is the best climate change solution available today and it provides hard evidence to justify investment." He added, "If we act now, this could cut carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by up to 25%, to levels last seen almost a century ago."
However, action must be taken now, as it will take time for the trees to mature and, if global temperatures continue to rise, the area available for planting trees would be reduced.
Whilst the study has gained praise and support from those such as Christiana Figueres, the former UN climate chief, others have not been so positive about the findings. Some researchers believe that planting trees is amongst the most effective strategy, but criticise the authors for stating it is the best solution available. And whilst the trees will remove carbon dioxide, what we really need to do is focus on reducing the emissions in the first place.
It could be argued that at this moment in time, when time is of the essence in the fight against climate change, planting trees would certainly do no harm and would help other areas of the environment too. The problem may lie in convincing world leaders to invest in something like this when they may be more willing to invest in other options, especially as there are doubts cast as to the accuracy of the science involved in the study.
