Will Our Obsession With Planting Trees Actually Help The Environment
The ups and downs of reforestation
As we enter the race to slow down climate change and reverse some of the damage we have done to the Earth, many have turned towards planting trees.
From Mr. Beast’s collaboration with TeamTrees to plant 20 million trees, the Great Green Wall stretching across Africa and the UK government’s pledge to plant 30 million trees a year, there is no shortage of projects that aim to “re-green” the world.
After all, if deforestation releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, in theory, reforestation should do the opposite. In the same vein, the more trees we plant, the more carbon dioxide removed. Simple.
And indeed, reforestation does help the environment. Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air and provide oxygen. Forests are natural habitats for numerous animal species while preventing soil erosion, helping reduce the occurrences of landslides in hilly areas. Furthermore, the trees can cool their immediate environment and bring rainfall to the region, helping regions that are hit with frequent droughts and dry spells due to climate change.
Research done by the Crowther Lab has shown that under the current climate conditions, Earth can support another 1.6 billion hectares of…
