The global movement to restore nature's biodiversity | Thomas Crowther

Summary

The speaker discusses the importance of biodiversity and forests in combating climate change. They reveal their research on global forest data, showing the potential of planting over a trillion new trees to capture excess carbon. The script highlights the media's role in promoting tree planting but warns against oversimplification. It stresses the need for nuanced restoration efforts that consider local ecology and community needs, introducing 'Restor', a platform to guide and support global restoration projects.

Takeaways

• 🌳 The sounds of a native forest are linked to our evolutionary past, where biodiversity was crucial for survival.
• 🌿 Biodiversity is essential for life on Earth, and ecosystems like forests play a key role in capturing carbon from the atmosphere.
• 🔍 The speaker's career focused on the connection between insects and fungi in soil, aiming to understand how these networks could mitigate climate change.
• 🌍 Forests can help combat global warming by capturing carbon and storing it in the soil for centuries.
• 🌱 Protecting existing forests and planting new trees could significantly reduce annual carbon emissions.
• 🌐 A global network of experts contributed data revealing that there is room for over one trillion new trees on Earth.
• 🌲 The potential of forests to capture excess carbon is enormous, equivalent to decades of human emissions.
• 📈 The research sparked global interest, leading to initiatives like the Trillion Trees Campaign and pledges from governments and companies.
• 🚫 The speaker warns against oversimplification, emphasizing that tree planting is not a single solution to climate change but part of a broader portfolio of solutions.
• 🌱 The importance of ecological diversity is highlighted by contrasting a native forest with a monoculture plantation, which lacks biodiversity and ecosystem services.
• 🌐 The platform 'Restor' is introduced as a tool to facilitate global restoration efforts by providing ecological insights and a space for sharing project data and learnings.

Q & A

What is the significance of the sounds of a native forest in Southern Europe?

The sounds of a native forest in Southern Europe are significant because they indicate the presence of biodiversity, which is essential for life on Earth. The speaker suggests that we evolved in ecosystems where these sounds signified the availability of food, medicine, and other resources necessary for survival.

What is the speaker's area of focus in their career?

The speaker has focused on the connection between insects and fungi in the soil, aiming to understand the scale of these networks and how they might help address the challenge of climate change.

How do forests help in reducing atmospheric carbon?

Forests help reduce atmospheric carbon by capturing carbon from the atmosphere through the process of photosynthesis. Trees use this carbon for growth, and some of it enters the soil, where it can be stored for hundreds or thousands of years.

What is the potential impact of stopping global forest loss?

Stopping global forest loss could directly help reduce annual emissions by preserving the carbon already stored in trees and soil. It could also potentially tip the balance towards carbon sequestration, aiding in the repair process of the climate.

How many trees are estimated to exist on Earth according to the speaker's research?

According to the speaker's research, there are just over three trillion trees on Earth, which is almost half of what existed before human civilization.

What is the potential for new tree growth outside of urban and agricultural areas?

The speaker suggests that there is room for just over one trillion new trees on 0.9 billion hectares of land outside of urban and agricultural areas where trees would naturally exist.

What is the estimated potential of these new trees to capture excess carbon in the atmosphere?

The speaker estimates that if these areas could be protected in the long term, the soils and vegetation might capture up to 30 percent of the excess carbon in the atmosphere, equivalent to decades of human emissions.

What was the reaction to the speaker's research when it was published in the journal Science?

The publication of the speaker's research in Science led to a media explosion, with global discussions about the potential of trees in combating climate change. It also led to the launch of various tree planting campaigns by organizations like the World Economic Forum, WWF, and United Nations.

What mistakes did the speaker make in communication that threatened the message of their research?

The speaker made the mistake of oversimplifying the message about tree restoration, which led to the perception that it was a single solution to climate change. This忽视ed the need for a comprehensive approach to reducing emissions and protecting existing ecosystems.

What is the difference between a eucalyptus plantation and a native forest in terms of biodiversity?

A eucalyptus plantation, as described in the script, lacks the sounds of birds and insects, indicating a lack of biodiversity. In contrast, a native forest is rich in biodiversity, with various species of trees, birds, and insects, which contribute to a healthy ecosystem.

What is the main goal of the Restor platform mentioned in the script?

The Restor platform aims to provide an open data platform for the restoration movement, offering free ecological insights to guide tree planting, soil amendment, and other restoration efforts. It also facilitates the sharing of ecological information to help restoration organizations learn from each other and for funders to track projects.

How does the speaker view the role of global restoration in addressing climate change and other global threats?

The speaker sees global restoration as a crucial part of a portfolio of solutions to climate change, not a silver bullet. They also emphasize that protecting and rebuilding biodiversity is essential for addressing other global threats such as extreme weather events, droughts, food shortages, and pandemics, even if climate change were to stop immediately.