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Re “Emissions Cut Won’t Bring Quick Relief, Scientists Say” (news article, Jan. 27):
You report that the scientists behind a report on the persistence of carbon dioxide emissions say that engineered solutions for removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere are “quite speculative” and “not at hand.”
There is one solution that is not speculative: forests.
Robust, thriving forests remove emissions from the atmosphere and store them for long periods of time. Conversely, when forests are cut down, they become gross emitters, second only to fossil fuels. Nearly 40 percent of cumulative carbon dioxide emissions since the Industrial Revolution have come from forest loss and degradation.
Forests are an effective, natural solution. They must be restored, conserved and managed as resilient, growing carbon banks to help us combat climate change. Unlike oceans, which are becoming overacidified from absorbing too much carbon, forests can safely store a great deal more.
America’s forests can be used to benefit our climate today and are therefore a “technology” worthy of our investment.
Laurie Wayburn
President, The Pacific Forest Trust
San Francisco, Jan. 28, 2009
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There is indisputable truth in what you write, Laurie.
Excerpt from a recent blog post:
Reductions in emissions is only part of the equation. We must actively pursue methods to remove CO2 from the air.
On an individual level, planting trees is an activity where you can make a difference, and remains the cheapest way to remove CO2.
Healthy trees absorb 48 pounds of carbon each year, and produce enough oxygen to support two people. If a million people each planted a tree, 10,000,000 pounds of carbon would be removed from the atmosphere each year, according to the American Forestry Association.
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