The earth warming is not a recent invention. Scientists were already alarmed 20 years ago and more as they saw ozone layers ripping apart and the world getting warming. Back then I was charged to lead a forestry project –– finding if and how poplar trees could grow beside roads and highways to suck up greenhouse gas.
Now what would seem like a no brainer moment for scientists, shows us the obvious: by letting forests grow we can greatly remediate the effects of climate change (and a mass Exodus from the Middle East) in the near future. This is new research from the University of Connecticut led by Robin Chazdon.
Her recent study in Latin America shows that if recently abandoned South American farmland reverts to forests we can suck up 31 billion tons of carbon in the next 40 years. That will offset two decades of using fossil fuels in the region. If additional pastures are abandoned some 7 billion more tons could be sucked up.
A forest as carbon sink? Brilliant! I am pleased that there are scientists who have the patience to demonstrate common sense to the world.
The paper also offers a due date as to when this should be done so we can avoid the tipping point –– a climate change disaster. “This is a potential contribution that is sitting right under our noses,” said Chazdon.
Let’s also look to more sustainable way of growing food and less use of unsustainable farming practices. Hydroponics is one very good option.
Author: Karin Kloosterman
Karin Kloosterman is an award-winning journalist, innovation strategist, and founder of Green Prophet, one of the Middle East’s pioneering sustainability platforms. She has ranked in the Top 10 of Verizon innovation competitions, participated in NASA-linked challenges, and spoken worldwide on climate, food security, and future resilience. With an IoT technology patent, features in Canada’s National Post, and leadership inside teams building next-generation agricultural and planetary systems — including Mars-farming concepts — Karin operates at the intersection of storytelling, science, and systems change. She doesn’t report on the future – she helps design it. Reach out directly to [email protected]
Since forests are the answer- how prescient of Paulo Lugari and the other scientists/activists at Las Gaviotas Colombia have perfected the process of reclaiming dead savannah lands into rainforest AND creating sustainable human economy by seeding the land first with non-dominant Caribbean pines ( which are then tapped for turpentine and bio-fuel and palm trees) which allow ground cover which in turn allows the rain forest to re seed itself naturally re-emerge to take over…
Since forests are the answer- how prescient of Paulo Lugari and the other scientists/activists at Las Gaviotas Colombia have perfected the process of reclaiming dead savannah lands into rainforest AND creating sustainable human economy by seeding the land first with non-dominant Caribbean pines ( which are then tapped for turpentine and bio-fuel and palm trees) which allow ground cover which in turn allows the rain forest to re seed itself naturally re-emerge to take over… link attached http://www.friendsofgaviotas.org