Trees can provide a wealth of benefits for the sustainable development of human and animal based societies.
They provide shelter and a sound structure that can greatly diminish the negative impact caused by climate change on the environment. The world’s forests are a crucial element in stabilizing the Earth’s climate. However, planting more trees is not enough to save our planet from climate change. We need to implement strategies that will allow for the rapid expansion of forests. This will ensure that humans and wildlife live in a sustainable environment and do what they can to mitigate global warming and its negative impact.
A recent study shows that planting just twenty-one species of plants can offset the emission of sixteen billion tons of carbon dioxide every year. This study looked only at fast growing trees. If we plant slower growing trees, we can still effectively absorb CO2 and other greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. The same study goes on to state that planting more than twenty varieties of trees can effectively capture a greater share of the greenhouse gas emissions absorbed by the atmosphere every year.
This is a valuable lesson for us all because the rate at which Earth’s ecosystems are being destroyed at an alarming rate indicates that we cannot wait any longer to do something about the problem.
Global warming and climate change threaten the survival of human life as we know it. Trees have been considered to be one of the natural climate solutions to counteract greenhouse gas emissions. This is because the tree acts as an efficient absorber of CO2, allowing it to be stored in the soil for a longer period of time. It also acts as a wind buffer and improves the aesthetic appeal of the surrounding area. In short, planting trees can help us save not only our own lives but the existence of other forms of life as well.
In addition to absorbing CO2, trees also actively remove CO2 and other gasses from the air. This makes them an excellent choice for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. If we would not plant more trees, then at least fifty to seventy percent of the carbon dioxide that is released into the atmosphere could be stored in the land area itself.
However, tree planting can’t be done everywhere. Trees are living things and their roots penetrate the soil. Therefore, they need to be planted in areas where soil is not heavy and is not likely to be destroyed by the elements. This makes tree planting a problem for some regions, like arable lands in northern countries. On the other hand, tropical forested areas are suitable for tree planting because of the special conditions in these regions tend to have.
Trees are primarily considered to be the “cleanest” of the renewable resources. They are able to absorb carbon dioxide from the air and store it in their solid form, unlike the fossil fuel that we currently rely on to meet our energy needs. Trees have the ability to absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide; however, once the leaves of a tree to die, the carbon dioxide has no chance to be absorbed by the tree. In fact, carbon dioxide is actually said to be “carbon neutral”, which means that it does not add to the total amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This means that, while trees are wonderful for the planet, we should try to use other renewable sources besides trees.
As far as carbon dioxide absorption is concerned, the answer is: all of them! Forests that have already been converted to timber farming (for instance) release vast amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Tree plantations also damage the Eco-system by draining away the natural oxygen supply in many forested areas. The problem of deforestation and environmental degradation cannot be solved with just native forests. Therefore, the best solution would be to convert native forests to timber plantations, which not only benefits the environment but also greatly reduces the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Another major problem associated with planting trees is that of carbon dioxide absorption. However, when trees are planted in areas that have already been converted into plantations, they will absorb carbon dioxide from the air before they absorb carbon dioxide from the soil. Overall, it can be said that planting trees is not enough to offset the negative effects of conversion to plantations: native forest must be replanted or carbon mitigation must be implemented to help offset any negative impact that these activities may have on the environment.
Provided by Antonio Westley
Disclaimer: This article is meant to be seen as an overview of this subject and not a reflection of viewpoints or opinions as nothing is definitive. So, make sure to do your research and feel free to use this information at your own discretion.
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