Trees--the natural carbon sink.
The world’s forests absorb 2.4 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year, one-third of the annual CO2 released from burning fossil fuels. Forest destruction emits further carbon into the atmosphere. Protecting and restoring this vast carbon sink is essential for mitigating climate change. If we stopped cutting down trees we would cut our annual emissions by about 10%. "The best solution for climate change is to keep fossil carbons in the ground," -- Simon Lewis, forest ecologist, UCL.
The world’s forests absorb 2.4 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year, one-third of the annual CO2 released from burning fossil fuels. Forest destruction emits further carbon into the atmosphere. Protecting and restoring this vast carbon sink is essential for mitigating climate change. If we stopped cutting down trees we would cut our annual emissions by about 10%. "The best solution for climate change is to keep fossil carbons in the ground," -- Simon Lewis, forest ecologist, UCL.
Planting new trees will not be enough. We have to stop cutting down the old-growth forests which are not only prime carbon sinks but sources of irreplaceable biodiversity.
Which means that replanting trees is not enough to avert climate disaster. We need to stop the destruction of forests already here. Study after study indicates that only by preserving and protecting natural forests, rainforest in particular, can we slow down the earth warming. Deforestation is now one of the biggest sources of carbon dioxide, because when trees are cut down much of the carbon stored within them escapes into the air – especially if the wood is burned. And yet logging and clear-cutting has been on the rise in the Amazon — the world’s largest rainforest. New satellite images suggest areas larger than a soccer field are being cleared every minute.
In the state of Victoria where I live, we have been urging the government to stop native logging immediately, not to wait until 2030 as is currently decided. Native forest logging destroys wildlife habitat and pushes forests towards total ecosystem collapse. Ending native logging in Victoria alone would be the equivalent in carbon emissions of removing 730,00 cars from our roads annually. That's a lot of carbon the state could be reducing.
It's time we help them out.
Here is a list of international groups working hard to slow down deforestation.
Here is a list of international groups working hard to slow down deforestation.
So let's save those trees today. Write to your MPs to urge them to stop the logging of native forests. Contact your local Australian Conservation Foundation, Friends of the Earth, Australian Forests & Climate Alliance, Victorian Forest Alliance, WA Forest Alliance, Queensland Forests Alliance, Wilderness Society, WWF-Australia, Queensland Conservation Council, the Rainforest Alliance, North East Forest Alliance, SERCA, Nature Conservation Council of NSW, among others...
Remember, as long as a tree lives, that carbon stays within it – and trees can live for decades or centuries. Help them help us.
© All rights reserved. Nina Killham 2020
