Climate change: the trouble with trees

The Economist

18 Sept 201909:45

Summary

TLDRThe video script highlights the urgent issue of deforestation and its impact on climate change, emphasizing the limitations of tree planting as a sole solution. It showcases the success of 'wilding'—a hands-off approach to forest restoration—and the importance of local community involvement in sustainable forestry. Monoculture plantations are critiqued for their short-term carbon storage and ecological impacts. The script calls for a balanced view of tree planting, recognizing its role in climate change mitigation but not as a substitute for reducing fossil fuel emissions.

Takeaways

🔥 In Summer 2019, over 38,000 fires occurred in the Amazon, largely due to human activities, highlighting the severity of deforestation.
🌳 Nearly 17% of the Amazon rainforest has been cleared in the past 50 years, indicating a significant loss of one of the world's largest ecosystems.
🌐 Global deforestation rates have doubled in just five years, underscoring the urgency of addressing this environmental crisis.
🌳 Since the beginning of human civilization, the global tree population has declined by nearly half, emphasizing the long-term impact of deforestation.
🌱 Clearing forests increases carbon dioxide levels, but planting trees can help sequester carbon, suggesting a potential solution to climate change.
🌿 Tree planting is often seen as a panacea for climate change, but it's not without its drawbacks, as monoculture plantations can have negative environmental impacts.
🌲 Isabella Tree's approach of 'wilding'—letting nature take over farmland—has doubled carbon sequestration in the soil in 20 years, illustrating a hands-off method of combating climate change.
🌳 To stabilize the climate, global carbon emissions need to reach net zero by 2050, and tree planting is one way to achieve this goal.
🌳 Despite ambitious global tree planting pledges, nearly half of the committed areas are monoculture plantations, which are less effective at carbon storage compared to natural forests.
🌳 Monoculture tree plantations, such as eucalyptus, grow quickly but release carbon back into the atmosphere when harvested, reducing their long-term carbon storage potential.
🌳 Genuine community involvement in tree planting, as demonstrated by Green Ethiopia, can lead to more sustainable and beneficial outcomes for both the environment and local communities.

Q & A

How many fires were reported in the Amazon during Summer 2019?
-In Summer 2019, more than 38,000 fires were reported across the Amazon.
What percentage of the world's largest rainforest has been cleared over the past 50 years?
-Almost 17% of the world's largest rainforest, the Amazon, has been cleared over the past 50 years.
How has global deforestation changed in the last five years?
-Global deforestation has almost doubled in just five years.
What is the estimated reduction in the number of trees worldwide since the start of human civilization?
-Since the start of human civilization, it is estimated that the number of trees around the world has fallen by almost half.
What is the impact of clearing forests on carbon-dioxide levels?
-Clearing forests increases carbon-dioxide levels in the atmosphere.
What is the concept of 'wilding' as described in the script?
-'Wilding' is a hands-off approach to land management, allowing nature to take over and promote the growth of freely regenerating trees.
How much carbon has been sequestered in the soil in the 20 years since the Sussex farmland was returned to nature?
-Within 20 years, the carbon sequestered in the soil of the Sussex farmland has doubled.
What is the global goal for carbon emissions by 2050 to stabilize the climate?
-To stabilize the climate, global carbon emissions need to drop to net zero by 2050.
What is the issue with monoculture tree plantations in terms of carbon storage?
-Monoculture tree plantations, such as those of eucalyptus, store only around one-fortieth of the carbon that natural forests do over the long term, as they are harvested every ten years or so, releasing carbon back into the atmosphere.
What was the outcome of Ethiopia's initiative to plant trees in a single day?
-Ethiopia set a record by planting over 350 million trees in a single day.
Why might planting forests be seen as a way to avoid penalties for missing EU targets?
-Planting forests might help countries like Ireland avoid penalties for missing EU targets because the potential carbon these forests could store in the future can be counted as a carbon credit today.
What is the main challenge with natural regeneration of forests compared to monoculture plantations?
-The main challenge with natural regeneration is that it is difficult to secure funding, as it does not guarantee specific targets or numbers of trees, unlike monoculture plantations which are preferred for their profitability and ability to meet funding targets.
What is the potential solution proposed for making natural forests more profitable than plantations?
-Some experts propose that carbon payments could create financial incentives for natural forests, making them more profitable than plantations if carbon becomes a more important commodity.
Why is tree planting not considered a complete solution to climate change?
-Tree planting is not a complete solution to climate change because there is not enough land in the world to plant enough trees to offset all the carbon emissions from fossil fuels, and it should not be used as an excuse to avoid cutting fossil-fuel emissions.

Outlines

00:00

🌳 Amazon Deforestation and Tree Planting Dilemma

The script begins by highlighting the alarming rate of deforestation in the Amazon, with over 38,000 fires in Summer 2019 alone, largely caused by human activities. It discusses the significant impact of deforestation on global carbon dioxide levels and the climate crisis. The narrative then shifts to the concept of tree planting as a potential solution, yet it points out the limitations and misconceptions about its effectiveness. The story of Isabella Tree, who allowed her farmland to return to nature, is used to illustrate the benefits of a hands-off approach to reforestation, which has led to a significant increase in carbon sequestration in the soil. The script also touches on the global ambition to plant trees, with pledges from 51 countries to increase forest cover, but it cautions about the prevalence of monoculture plantations, which may not be as effective in long-term carbon storage as natural forests.

05:02

🌿 The Impact of Monoculture Plantations and the Need for Community Engagement

This paragraph delves into the consequences of monoculture tree plantations, focusing on Ireland's efforts to increase forest cover, which are primarily conifer monocultures. The script critiques these plantations for their negative environmental impacts, such as the use of fertilizers contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and their detrimental effects on biodiversity and local communities. It contrasts this with the Green Ethiopia project, which emphasizes the importance of community involvement and mixed-tree planting for sustainable reforestation. The paragraph also discusses the challenges of natural regeneration, including difficulty in securing funding due to the focus on targets and numbers rather than the quality of the forest. The script concludes by emphasizing that while tree planting is beneficial, it is not a substitute for reducing fossil fuel emissions and that there is a need to balance tree planting with other climate change mitigation strategies.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Deforestation

Deforestation refers to the large-scale removal of trees and forests, typically for agricultural or development purposes. In the video, it is highlighted that almost 17% of the Amazon rainforest has been cleared over the past 50 years, contributing to increased carbon dioxide levels and exacerbating climate change. Deforestation is a critical issue as it not only impacts biodiversity but also disrupts the carbon cycle.

💡Carbon Sequestration

Carbon sequestration is the process by which carbon dioxide is captured and stored in natural systems, such as forests. The video discusses how planting trees can help store carbon from the atmosphere, thereby mitigating the effects of climate change. It is noted that wilding, or allowing forests to regrow naturally, can double carbon sequestration in the soil within 20 years.

💡Monoculture Plantations

Monoculture plantations are large-scale tree farms where a single species is planted over vast areas. The script mentions that such plantations, like eucalyptus, grow quickly but have a limited capacity for carbon storage compared to natural forests. They also contribute to the release of carbon back into the atmosphere when harvested, making them less effective in the long term for addressing climate change.

💡Carbon Credits

Carbon credits are a form of tradeable certificate that represent the right to emit one tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent. The video points out that planting forests can be used to generate carbon credits, which can be counted towards meeting emission reduction targets. However, this can sometimes be a motivation for planting monoculture plantations, which may not be as beneficial for the environment.

💡Climate Change

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperature, precipitation, and other atmospheric conditions. The video emphasizes the role of deforestation and carbon emissions in exacerbating climate change. It also discusses the potential of tree planting and carbon sequestration as strategies to mitigate its effects, although it cautions that these are not complete solutions.

💡Wilding

Wilding is a hands-off approach to forest restoration where land is allowed to regenerate naturally without human intervention. The script highlights Isabella Tree's project in Sussex, where 1,400 hectares of farmland were returned to nature, leading to a doubling of carbon sequestration in the soil. This method is contrasted with monoculture plantations, emphasizing the benefits of natural regeneration.

💡Carbon Emissions

Carbon emissions refer to the release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, primarily from the burning of fossil fuels. The video discusses the need to reduce global carbon emissions to net zero by 2050 to stabilize the climate. It also explores the potential of tree planting and carbon sequestration to help achieve this goal.

💡Biodiversity

Biodiversity is the variety of life in a given ecosystem, including the number of species, genetic diversity, and the complexity of interactions between organisms. The script points out that monoculture plantations are poor for biodiversity, as they lack the variety of species found in natural forests. This can have negative impacts on local ecosystems and the services they provide.

💡Greenhouse Gases

Greenhouse gases are gases that trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, contributing to global warming. The video mentions carbon dioxide as a primary greenhouse gas, but also highlights nitrous oxide, which can be released from fertilized monoculture plantations. These gases are a major driver of climate change and are a focus of efforts to reduce emissions.

💡Natural Forests

Natural forests are ecosystems characterized by a diverse range of tree species and other vegetation, as opposed to monoculture plantations. The script emphasizes the superior carbon storage capacity of natural forests compared to monoculture plantations and their importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services. Natural forests are also highlighted as a more sustainable approach to climate change mitigation.

💡Sustainability

Sustainability refers to the ability to maintain ecological balance and human well-being over the long term. The video discusses the sustainability of different tree planting approaches, contrasting the short-term benefits of monoculture plantations with the long-term benefits of natural forest restoration. Emphasizing local community involvement and the importance of conserving as well as planting trees is key to sustainable forest management.

Highlights

In Summer 2019, over 38,000 fires were reported in the Amazon, largely man-made.

In the past 50 years, nearly 17% of the Amazon rainforest has been cleared.

Global deforestation rates have nearly doubled in just five years.

Since the start of human civilization, the global tree population has decreased by almost 50%.

Clearing forests increases carbon dioxide levels, but planting trees can help sequester carbon.

Some view tree planting as a solution to climate change, but it is not universally beneficial.

Isabella Tree restored 1,400 hectares of farmland in Sussex by allowing nature to take over.

Wilding, a hands-off approach, has doubled carbon sequestration in the soil in 20 years.

Global carbon emissions need to reach net zero by 2050 to stabilize the climate.

Simon Lewis suggests planting trees as a cost-effective way to remove carbon from the atmosphere.

In 2014, 51 countries committed to planting over 3.5 million square kilometers of forest by 2030.

Ethiopia set a record by planting over 350 million trees in a single day.

Nearly half of the pledged forest area is from monoculture plantations, which are less effective at carbon storage.

Monoculture plantations release much of their stored carbon back into the atmosphere when harvested.

Simon Lewis' analysis shows that current pledges will store 26 billion fewer tons of carbon than natural forests.

Ireland's tree planting efforts may be motivated by avoiding EU penalty for missing emission targets.

Monoculture plantations in Ireland are criticized for their impact on biodiversity and local communities.

Green Ethiopia demonstrates successful tree planting with community involvement in Ethiopia.

Natural regeneration of forests can be more sustainable but is challenging to fund.

Carbon payments could potentially incentivize natural forest conservation over monoculture plantations.

There is not enough land to plant enough trees to offset all carbon emissions from fossil fuels.

Tree planting is not a substitute for reducing fossil fuel emissions.