A study was published this week that indicated man is responsible for reducing global tree populations by around 50%, and in doing so, having a huge negative impact on global climates.
Conducted by researchers in 15 countries,and led by a team at Yale University, the study estimated that there are more than 3 trillion trees on Earth today. This is about seven and a half times more than some previous estimates; but also around 46% lower than since human civilization began.
We Need To Replant on a Greater Scale than Previously Thought
In effect it shows we have more trees than we thought, but also we have destroyed more trees than we thought. This suggests we need to plant many more trees than we might have previously thought necessary, to return the environment to where it once was.
Quote from Report:
The new insights can improve the modeling of many large-scale systems, from carbon cycling and climate change models to the distribution of animal and plant species, say the researchers.
“Trees are among the most prominent and critical organisms on Earth, yet we are only recently beginning to comprehend their global extent and distribution,” said Thomas Crowther, a postdoctoral fellow at the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies (F&ES) and lead author of the study.
“They store huge amounts of carbon, are essential for the cycling of nutrients, for water and air quality, and for countless human services,” he added. “Yet you ask people to estimate, within an order of magnitude, how many trees there are and they don’t know where to begin. I don’t know what I would have guessed, but I was certainly surprised to find that we were talking about trillions.”
Some estimates claim deforestation is known to contribute as much as 20% of global emissions of Carbon Dioxide.
It's more Complicated than Planting Any Trees Anywhere!
Not all trees are the same, and not all forests are the same. Some are bigger, others denser. Some grow slower, some live longer. Some are deciduous and don't mitigate carbon dioxide emissions so much when the leaves drop.
If we are to seriously reverse the affects of deforestation; we need to understand the science, have a very good understanding of a large range of different tree species, and apply a high level of horticultural skill to establishing large numbers of the best tree species in the most appropriate locations.
Clearly More People Need to Learn and Apply a Knowledge of Horticulture
This is a problem that will take lifetimes to solve; and that situation creates enormous business and career opportunities. If you want a career that is ethical, sustainabnle and will help all mankind - Think about Trees.
