How to erase 100 years of carbon emissions? Plant trees—lots of them.
- Martin Ford
- Jul 9
- 1 min read
STEPHEN LEAHY
2019-07-04
National Geographic
Keywords: Environmental science, Climate action, Sustainable practices, Forestry, Global warming, Carbon footprint, Conservation efforts,
Indigenous Peoples and local communities hold at least half of the world’s land, including most tropical forests. Deforestation rates are far lower in forests where indigenous land tenure is recognized.
The article emphasizes the role of tree planting in combating climate change by reducing CO2 emissions. Research shows that expanding global forests could significantly lower atmospheric CO2, potentially offsetting a century of emissions. The study identifies land for expansion without impacting cities or farms, but warns of reduced potential with climate change. The research calls for combining tree planting with forest protection and fossil fuel reduction. Lead author Tom Crowther urges immediate action to reduce CO2 to pre-20th century levels. The article also highlights the benefits of forests for biodiversity and ecosystem services, as well as the effective land management by indigenous communities. It references global efforts like the Bonn Challenge and the Trillion Tree Campaign. The conclusion stresses the necessity of systemic changes and the importance of reforestation and indigenous land stewardship in addressing climate change.
Tags: Tree planting, Climate change, Carbon dioxide reduction, Forest restoration, Trillion Tree Campaign, Indigenous land rights, Amazon rainforest
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