Key Research
Tree Planting vs Deforestation
It is a common belief that planting trees is a quick fix for deforestation and battling climate change. However, planting trees without addressing the social drivers that caused deforestation in the first place will not mitigate climate change. Public dialogue has emphasised the potential benefits of tree planting while downplaying pitfalls and limitations that are well established by social and ecological research.
The ideology behind planting trees in response to climate change is that growing trees break down CO2 from the atmosphere by photosynthesis, releasing oxygen (O2) to the atmosphere and storing carbon within them.
Each tonne of carbon stored within trees means that 3.67 tonnes of CO2 have been removed from the atmosphere. However, the rate of a forest’s growth declines with age as more suppressed trees die, reducing the net rate of CO2 removal as the forest matures.
This is because carbon from dead trees and other organic matter combines with oxygen through the process of decomposing or burning, which re-forms CO2 that is released back into the atmosphere.
Consequently, CO2 sequestration rates in ageing forests slow down and may even release more CO2 than they are removing, especially if fires occur.
In effect, growing forests provide a one-time reduction in CO2, not a sustained reduction. Therefore, planting trees in response to mass deforestation is not a long-term solution to the problem.
Sources used:
https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/70/11/947/5903754
https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2307/1938964
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10549811.2013.839386
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.4155/cmt.11.24
https://andrewsforest.oregonstate.edu/sites/default/files/lter/pubs/pdf/pub3401.pdf
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10549811.2021.1894951
Urgent Concerns
A Globe Scan survey created in 2024 showcases the increasing global concerns regarding climate change and deforestation, and shows that these environmental issues are becoming increasingly severe challenges to solve.
The survey captures the perspectives of almost 500 sustainability experts in 65 countries worldwide on the priorities and forces shaping the sustainable development agenda. Out of all the experts that were surveyed, 96% of them see climate change as the most critical challenge, with 8 in 10 experts viewing deforestation, water scarcity, and water pollution as being the next most urgent issues after climate change. These sustainable development challenges have been rated as the top 4 most urgent issues out of a list of 18 overall challenges.
Conserving Resources
As most paper is made from virgin wood pulp, it costs us vital natural resources such as water, trees, and energy. Recycling our old books could save up to 3 cubic yards of landfill space and reduce air pollution emissions by up to 74% from this industry.
It is also important to reuse paper because our world’s natural resources are not limitless. It takes trees a staggering 10-30+ years to mature, with deforestation exceeding reforestation in many regions. Additonally, only 2.5% of earth’s water is freshwater, and just 0.3% is accessible. Paper mills also require fossil fuels to power them, which are non-renewable and contribute towards climate change due to harmful emissions.
These figures across multiple sources underscore the significant environmental benefits of paper recycling, particularly in conserving landfill space, lowering emissions, conserving limited water stores, and keeping forests happy and healthy.
