Forestry Practices and Global Warming
The way land is used can have an affect on global warming. Forests are an important use of land in most countries, and in modern times they take on a new, environmental significance.
Plant life can scrub carbon dioxide from the air. Much of the very carbon dioxide that is one of the causes of global warming can be eliminated just by being in the vicinity of certain plants. Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and lock it up during their lifespans. If a tree is eventually burned or allowed to rot, the carbon dioxide is re-released for no net gain. If the tree is manufactured into boards or other durable products, however, some carbon is locked up indefinitely.
If huge numbers of trees could be planted simultaneously, significant amounts of carbon would be locked up for decades, buying time for scientists and society to find permanent solutions. The reality of the global warming problem is enormous, and no one person, city or even state can plant enough trees to measurably cool the globe. Accomplishing that will require a massive, worldwide effort involving the people and leaders of many nations.
The impacts of climate change on forestry in Wales forecasts more extremes of weather, with increased high rainfall in the winter causing flooding and landslips, and the potential for drought, particularly in the south as summers become drier.The Minister wants farmers to work with the forestry sector and use the trees on their land to help combat climate change. Eight of the leading environmental non-governmental organisations in Wales issued a joint statement emphasising the importance of woodlands and trees to the environment and quality of life. They call for the revised Woodlands for Wales strategy to include enhanced targets to deliver biodiversity, climate change adaptation, landscape, access and historic environment benefits from private, state and public woodland.
Trees are the best carbon dioxide scrubbers there are in nature. Old growth trees are especially good at removing carbon dioxide from the air and storing it within their cells. For this reason, old growth trees need to be protected.While the lumber trade argues that the old growth trees can be easily replaced by new trees, this is simply not the case. New trees do not possess the abilities that old trees have of preventing global warming by trapping carbon dioxide.
Some proponents of cutting suggest that certain new trees are capable of trapping more greenhouse gases than the old trees. The truth is that, even if this is true, it is not true when you compare the new special trees to any trees that have many decades of growth. To prevent global warming, you need trees with some substance to them.
Scientists and policy makers concerned with forestry, climate change, bio-diversity, and bio-energy recognise that deforestation increases other greenhouse gases, including methane and nitrous oxide. Global warming is a foreseeable reality when the rainforest and other forests are destroyed.
Preventing global warming should first focus on cutting greenhouse gas emissions caused by the burning of fossil fuels. However, deforestation comes in a close second as a cause and should also be part of conservation efforts. As if this was not enough, other greenhouse gases are increased by deforestation. These include methane and nitrous oxide. Global warming is foreseeable when people greedily take the rainforest and other forests for their own purposes.
People can stop this dependence on old growth trees for lumber. When people learn that forests are important in stopping global warming, they can help the situation by refusing to use lumber that comes from old growth forests and the rainforest.
While it is easy and tempting to continue to blame the deforestation problem on the forestry industry clearing land in the rainforests. The truth is that a trees in your neighborhood are as valuable as those in the rainforest when it comes to removing carbon dioxide. It is important to think on a global scale but it is important to also act on a local scale. We may well have more impact on the actions of those in our immediate vicinity than those half a globe away. Look in your backyard, is there room for a few more trees? If so go plant some.
