Think How Much Climate Progress We Could Make If We Protected The World’s Forests – CleanTechnica

---

Support CleanTechnica’s work through a Substack subscription or on Stripe.

---

The world’s forests play an essential role in mitigating climate change. They absorb billions of tons of carbon dioxide each year, yet sustainable forestation requires analysis of its environment and ecosystems — a delicate melange of continent, terrain, air, soil, and the local climate. Considering societal and industrial benefits and the associated values of intact forest ecosystems are also important and must be factored into any discussions of protecting the world’s forests.

Why are the world’s forests so important? Forests help prevent erosion, enrich and conserve soil, help to protect communities from landslides and floods, and produce the rich topsoil needed to grow plants and crops, according to the WWF. Forests also play an important role in the global water cycle, moving water across the earth by releasing water vapor and capturing rainfall. They filter out pollution and chemicals, thereby improving the quality of water available for human use. The destruction of forests reverberates to agriculture and can affect the production of the food we eat.

What are terrestrial ecosystems? Terrestrial ecosystems are made up of thousands of species of animals, plants, fungi, and bacteria. They are complex, interacting communities. Interactions begin with functional units that require specific, dynamic relationships. These relationships emerge due to the coupled processes of energy and chemical flow. Terrestrial ecosystems occupy 144,150,000 km (28%) of Earth’s surface. Terrestrial ecosystems vary widely in their forms, functions, and biodiversity, but they are united by the growing threats they face from changes in land use, climate, and global change more broadly.

What is the connection between the world’s forests and terrestrial ecosystems? The United Nations states that global and regional efforts to sustain forest ecosystems as well as their social, economic, and environmental functions are essential, in particular for developing countries and the tropics. Lost forests mean the disappearance of livelihoods in rural communities, increased carbon emissions, diminished biodiversity, and the degradation of land. Forests contain 60,000 different tree species, 80% of amphibian species, 75% of bird species, and 68% of the world’s mammal species.

How do trees, as part of terrestrial ecosystems, contribute to climate mitigation? As important parts of terrestrial ecosystems, trees can contribute to climate mitigation through nature-based and sometimes age-old solutions which serve to reduce ecosystem greenhouse gas emissions. They absorb carbon as they grow, storing it in their fibers. Trees reduce the amount of sunlight that reaches the planet’s surface due to the water vapor they release. More humidity creates additional clouds, which block sunlight, creating a cooling effect. Trees also have a fire suppression effect.

What is agroforestry? Agroforestry describes the practice of integrating crops with trees. It is generally divided into two categories: trees are planted in open agricultural fields, or farmers plant specific crops beneath the canopies of existing forests. Forest-based agroforestry can support forest health and biodiversity, enhance carbon sequestration and storage, generate economic benefits for local communities through sustainable harvesting of forest products (such as fruits, nuts, and medicinal plants), and align with Indigenous and traditional land stewardship practices.

How does agroforestry fit into climate mitigation? Right now up to 45% of the carbon stored on land may be tied up in forests. Tree planting is generally a net positive for the climate because it helps pull warming carbon out of the atmosphere. Carbon sequestration of the world’s trees amplifies their overall cooling effects, and more trees mean more cooling..

How can farming support forests? Farming directly in forests can deliver wins for biodiversity, people, and climate change, explains Emma Bryce in Anthropocene. Tree planting can slow the harsh effects of monocultures by infusing biodiversity into otherwise one-dimensional landscapes. It can function as carbon sequestration. The symbiotic relationship of farm and forest requires active stewardship so that both crops and a healthy, functioning forest ecosystem flourish.

Is planting forests amidst farms new? No. Actually, humans living in and around forests have been supporting forest health for thousands of years. Forest farming stems from Indigenous practices and happens today around the world.

Has agroforestry always worked? Not completely. It seems that too many agroforestry initiatives have focused on planting trees rather than managing existing forestland. Some researchers argue that efforts should be devoted to supporting a combination of forest ecosystems, rural livelihoods, and climate mitigation. Climate change has altered the health of the world’s forest, so they need help from threats like invasive species, forest fires, and soil degradation.

Tell me more about soil. How can agroforestry replenish soil degradation? Agroforestry works because “it’s farming in 3D,” according to the Soil Association.  Agroforestry practices help roots reach deep into the ground tor cycle nutrients and store carbon, while above ground, the trees protect crops and animals against the elements. Agroforestry is an efficient way to solve many problems of intensive farming.

What can farmers need to do so they support healthy forests? Some examples of forest-friendly farming practices include thinning tree cover to allow sunlight in; controlled burning when necessary; and, eradicating invasive species.

What happens when farmers nurture forests? Ecological health can flourish! Enhanced biodiversity, tree regeneration, and carbon storage are evident. So, too, are farmers’ livelihoods, as their crops grow more robustly with a neighboring biodiverse forest environment.

Are there particular places where the world’s forests need particular attention? Sure. A UC Riverside study suggests that, if planted in the tropics, more trees will cool the climate and suppress fires. The tropics offer the strongest returns per tree.

I’ve heard that “tree sweating” helps with climate mitigation. What is it? Tree sweating, also known as evapotranspiration, happens when tree roots pull water from the soil. The water moves up through the trunk and into the leaves. When pores in the leaves open up so the tree can take in carbon dioxide for photosynthesis, some of the water in the leaves evaporates into the air. This process cools the air on Earth’s surface and cools the tree, too.

What needs to be done to enhance forest nature-based solutions? Better science and policy to improve nature-based solutions to support climate mitigation outcomes can make a real difference to protect the world’s forests. It would take willingness on the part of governments, of course, to move forward with this approach.