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Planting 1.2T Trees Could Cancel Out a Decade of CO2 Emissions

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Re: Planting 1.2T Trees Could Cancel Out a Decade of CO2 Emissions

#61

Post by burlesona »

Not to be too snarky, but my first reaction to the headline was, “only 1.2 trillion? What are we waiting for!”

More seriously, though: the article claims there’s “ample acreage” for such an endeavor but I didn’t see where exactly they’re referring to. Are we supposed to imagine these are sprinkled here and there around the earth, and that there’s plenty of space just waiting for a tree to be planted, or is this something where we need to create or re-create vast forest lands for it to work?

Re: Planting 1.2T Trees Could Cancel Out a Decade of CO2 Emissions

#62

Post by hannasanarion »

asdfasgasdgasdg wrote: post #59
jayd16 wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The burning an decay of a planted tree would at worst be carbon neutral.

Right, but if the point of planting the trees is carbon amelioration, than carbon neutral would somewhat defeat the point. I've seen this argument before, and I think the real place it falls down is that there just isn't that much space. For mature growth forest, you have something like 40-ish big hardwood trees per acre [1]. Those are, to my understanding, the only ones that are really relevant because they make up…

That only holds true if you assume that every tree ever planted burns down within ten years. Many, possibly even most, of them will be harvested for wood, becoming a permanent carbon sink, or will be left alone to grow to maturity.

Re: Planting 1.2T Trees Could Cancel Out a Decade of CO2 Emissions

#63

Post by frogpelt »

agumonkey wrote: post #28
m0zg wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nor the emissions when those trees burn because they were planted in a place where waterbed can't support their density. This is happening in CA nearly every year.

nor the small emission from natural decay of dead wood That said it could also: - absorb some heat - create new wind / rain cycles - provides a lot of material (construction/furniture) to replace cement and plastics - kill millions of people of exhaustion from planting that many trees

If each person on the planet would plant 150 trees this year, we would be finished.

Re: Planting 1.2T Trees Could Cancel Out a Decade of CO2 Emissions

#64

Post by avip »

ai_ia wrote: post #7

I wonder if desert soil can be gradually converted to make the land fertile. That would definitely be helpful to convert a lot of land to plant trees which is currently of no particular use. Any research or innovation on that front ?

You'll have to account for driving water to the desert. Desert soil is fine (for desert-aware trees), but trees like water, and large trees like lots of water. In my country, Australia-native Eucalyptus is doing well.

http://www.kalanit.org.il/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/IMG_000...

Re: Planting 1.2T Trees Could Cancel Out a Decade of CO2 Emissions

#65

Post by avmich »

EamonnMR wrote: post #33

This is a great illustration of how there is no hope of sequestration as a solution. We're unlikely to plant even just a billion trees.

Article says "The United Nations’ Trillion Tree Campaign has planted nearly 15 billion trees across the globe in recent years."

Re: Planting 1.2T Trees Could Cancel Out a Decade of CO2 Emissions

#67

Post by dilyevsky »

EamonnMR wrote: post #33

This is a great illustration of how there is no hope of sequestration as a solution. We're unlikely to plant even just a billion trees.

Uh “Each year Americans plant at least 1.6 billion trees or about 6 trees for each one we use.”

- according to 5 sec of googling

Re: Planting 1.2T Trees Could Cancel Out a Decade of CO2 Emissions

#68

Post by maxander »

For reference, there’s about 500 trillion square meters of land area on the planet; so even if trees are crowded together one per square meter, this is talking about a 500th of that.

But perhaps we can find a way to make the Sahara into a forest? That’s about what it would take.

Re: Planting 1.2T Trees Could Cancel Out a Decade of CO2 Emissions

#69

Post by spaceheretostay »

avip wrote: post #64
ai_ia wrote: post #7

I wonder if desert soil can be gradually converted to make the land fertile. That would definitely be helpful to convert a lot of land to plant trees which is currently of no particular use. Any research or innovation on that front ?

You'll have to account for driving water to the desert. Desert soil is fine (for desert-aware trees), but trees like water, and large trees like lots of water. In my country, Australia-native Eucalyptus is doing well. http://www.kalanit.org.il/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/IMG_000...

The Romans built aqueducts that spanned hundreds of miles and they did it thousands of years ago. Why do you assume that today water has to be 'driven' with trucks or something?

I'm sure we could build aqueducts.

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