Can Planting Trees Save the Planet from Climate Change?

Modern technology has not been able to figure out how to remove carbon from the air and store it deep in the earth. But Nature already knows how to do this, and we can help encourage the process.

Trees are Nature’s best technology for sequestering carbon. Of course to accomplish carbon sequester on a large scale we can’t depend on backyard gardeners. It will take trillions of trees to truly help fight climate change. Swiss studies indicate that there is room for more than 3 million square miles of trees globally, at least a trillion trees. Those trees could eventually take up as much carbon as we have put into the air in the past 25 years. But trees are not only the most effective plant to trap carbon, they also aide the fight by supplying shade, erosion control, habitat for animal, bird and insect species and breathe oxygen back into our air. As climate change continues to warm the environment, trees can absorb twice the solar heat that bare land can, helping to reduce the threat of climate change. For tropical areas the darkest tree foliage can absorb best, and the trees will also encourage cloud formation for further cooling.

De-forestation needs to be reversed, fruit trees and native trees lost to tropical storms need to be repopulated, ecosystems must be buffered from development, native trees must be nurtured and protected, compromised tree populations should be diversified to protect the forest, and treeless land across the globe should be planted with native tree species. Sustainable farming communities have already realized the benefit of including trees in their crop lands. Admittedly, these things are not easily or quickly accomplished and can be quite costly. But the demand for such action is growing by ordinary people, communities and organizations, as well as the scientific community. Incentives and investments must be encouraged by our governments at all levels. And considering the alternatives, and the enormous need is far greater than the cost.

In the meantime, gardeners and homeowners can take positive action immediately. Many individuals and organizations already have. As trees are planted, the benefit comes quickly. Young growing trees sequester the most carbon. But to be most effective we should be selecting the biggest, hardiest, sturdy natives for our area. Within our region we should be planting a diverse mix of natives to eliminate large devastation when one species is compromised. Some tree species are more efficient and effective than others, and some tree species are better at enriching the soil. Both are necessary.

Planting trees is only a part of the solution of course, but it is a very important part. And those trees must be large and remain in place to continue processing and storing carbon until they mature to hundreds of years old. They cannot be planted for commercial purposes and harvested young, starting a whole new chain of carbon producing activity.

A couple of interesting facts, that I’m guessing most of us did not know:

• We breath in oxygen and breathe out CO2, plants and trees do the reverse. We each need one fully mature tree to balance just our breathing!

• When we cut down a tree and burn it, or allow a dead tree to decay, the carbon it has stored is released back into the air. Figure out a way to preserve that wood in furniture, a garden stool or planter.

• The average household carbon footprint is 22 metric tons. If you plant six trees it may sequester a half ton of carbon dioxide, more for a highly efficient tree. You will easily offset your carbon footprint with the trees alone.

So get planting!!