How Trees Fight Climate Change

NewsHow Trees Fight Climate Change

Reforest Nicosia

Reforest Nicosia

5 min read

One of the most major global issues we face today is climate change. Climate change effects are already being observed; Temperatures are rising world-wide due to greenhouse gasses trapping more heat in the atmosphere, drought becoming longer and more extreme around the world and tropical storms becoming more severe due to warmer ocean water temperatures. As temperatures rise there is less snowpack in mountain ranges and polar areas, and the snow melts faster. Οverall, glaciers are melting at a faster rate. Humans are not the only species impacted by our planet's climate crisis. The world's wildlife and habitats will also face profound, sometimes catastrophic, change. Increases in temperature could trigger the collapse of fragile ecosystems and huge waves of extinction. The choices we make today have the power to reduce the suffering of people and animals in the near future.

Trees are one of the most powerful ways to combat the climate crisis and restore biodiversity. Tree planting plays an important role in mitigating - by reducing the amount of greenhouse gases released and accumulating in the atmosphere - and adapting - by adjusting to the current and anticipated climatic conditions - to climate change.

Most of the global responses to climate change prioritise solutions of mitigation over adaptation.

Sadly, the greenhouse effect causing global warming is our everyday reality. The uncontrollable burning of fossil fuels by humans has caused the rising of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere.

As trees grow, they absorb and sink carbon dioxide, helping to slow down its build up in the air. Around 16 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide are annually stored in the world's forests. Trees use sunlight energy to do photosynthesis – a process that uses carbon dioxide and water to create energy (glucose) for their cells. In the end, trees end up feeding themselves with the carbon we desperately need to remove from the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is stored in every part of a tree as well as in the forest soil. Forests are one of the most significant carbon pools on our precious planet. However, several forests are on the verge of losing their capacity to serve as carbon sinks because increasing temperatures limit and hinder photosynthesis.

Many multinational corporations have taken initiatives to plant millions and even billions of trees to help the fight against climate change. These initiatives are more than welcomed if managed correctly. But the number one advice here is to not only focus on planting new trees but to also protect the ones we already have. Currently, existing forests are storing a significant amount of carbon. It is estimated that each year nearly 10 million hectares of forests are destroyed.?? When forests are lost, they stop absorbing carbon but they also release the carbon they had stored back into the atmosphere. Deforestation is responsible for the emission of more than 1.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide. No immediate restoration of the destroyed forests can be achieved by planting a new one. A young forest could take hundreds of years to store as much carbon as the old forest was storing.

What a German study suggests is that older (therefore taller) trees have the capacity to ascend to the top of the canopy and consistently receive sunlight. Therefore, they can photosynthesise at a faster rate. Also, old trees are stronger and more resilient than younger trees that can be more susceptible to rainfall, fires and drought. On the other hand, a conflicting study suggest that young forests absorb more carbon dioxide than older ones. The key here is to not underestimate any kind of forest since any age and any size can contribute to combating climate change.

A project of planting new trees should take a few factors into consideration. Firstly, trees should be planted in an area that was already home to a forest. Undertaking efforts to transform grasslands or wetlands into forests can be disastrous. In addition, one can't randomly pick what species of trees will be planted. Local tree species that are better adapted to the area's local climate and habitat should be first on the list. For example, non-native species may experience growth problems, become invasive and drain the water resources of a given area. Furthermore, a variety of tree species should be planted because if a forest is made up only from one species, then that forest is way more vulnerable to pests and diseases. Also, a mixed forest can offer a more complex habitat to biodiversity. Lastly, the new forest should include different heights of trees and plants for more carbon dioxide to be absorbed by different height levels in the forest. The purpose of a reforestation project is always to create a long-lasting forest. It is very important to keep monitoring the young forest in order to ensure its survival. Even after it reaches maturity, we should take care of it because if it gets destroyed we will again be stuck in the vicious cycle of deforestation exacerbating climate change. A tree planting initiative is always more successful if the local people are involved and the economic and social benefits the forest can provide are clear to them.

Let's not forget that trees are a major asset in our cities and failing to prioritise their planting and preservation will make our urban life way less pleasant. Urban trees are on of our greatest allies in helping us adapt to the unavoidable effects of climate change. Extreme heat waves will persist more and more, but trees are there to cool us down through evapotranspiration. As the temperatures rise, trees release evaporated water from their leaves, keeping the environment cool. Also, trees can provide us with the best shade, unlike concrete and asphalt that reflect more solar radiation and store more energy. Trees can decrease the risk and spread of wildfires since a lot of species are fire resistant (but not fireproof). In addition, tree roots also absorb water after storms, which will become more severe as the climate warms.