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One Trillion Trees

Gradient Ocean

Al Rezoski

Feb 7, 2024

Switzerland and Canada

Categories:

Climate Change, Trees, Environment, Biodiversity

A Swiss study reporting on the cheapest and most effective way to address climate change in the July 2019 edition of the Science Journal recommends planting one trillion trees. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation News summarized the report in a story presented on July 5, 2019.


Climate change is a significant and complex issue that can seem overwhelming. What can we do to address this issue? A simple and accessible activity is available to all - planting trees in our community. A Swiss study recommends planting a large number of trees to deal with climate change, one trillion. That number of trees is approximately the land area of the United States, nine million square kilometers. The report maintains this is feasible.


Why are trees so effective? Trees absorb heat-trapping carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. People may think that the most significant benefit comes from mature trees, but that's not true. Young trees are the most effective. Trees have multiple benefits, including cooling air, increasing biodiversity, increasing property values, decreasing crime, and improving mental and physical health.


Most of us have heard that the tropical jungles are the planet's lungs because of their enormous capacity to remove and sequester carbon. But, tropical forests aren't the only significant forests that sequester large amounts of carbon. The massive boreal forests that sweep across the northern latitudes hold 30-40% of all the land-based carbon in the world. Researchers have dubbed these forests "the carbon the world forgot." Unfortunately, the intensity, scale, and frequency of wildfires brought on by warming global temperatures threaten to turn the boreal forests from carbon sinks to carbon bombs.


Your activities to plant trees can be as simple as planting trees on your own property to joining a local or international tree-planting organization. Most communities have tree planting programs that encourage you to do both. To get started, search the internet for tree planting organizations in your area. If you do not have a group consider forming one. If you have physical limitations and cannot plant trees, consider doing administrative or fundraising work to support an organization. If you see a new tree planted, consider adopting it by watering and mulching it. Depending on your local climate, most newly planted trees need two buckets of water per day to get established.


In my area of Canada, conservation authorities lead many tree planting events. Many communities have tree stewardship education and planting programs, and there are also specialized theme planting organizations. For example, the Highway of Heroes in Ontario, Canada, is a living legacy of planting two million trees in honor of every member of the armed forces in Canada.


Plant a tree, save the planet. It is that straightforward, and we can do something today to make the world a better place.


Further information and resources:
Highway of Heroes (Ontario, Canada)
https://www.hohtribute.ca/


The Highway of Heroes' work was so successful that it expanded to a nationwide effort to plant two billion trees in Canada.
https://www.treesforlife.ca/


Also, consider joining international organizations such as EARTHDAY.ORG. They do work across the world to reforest areas. Their program is The Canopy Project.
https://www.earthday.org/campaign/the-canopy-project?gclid=CjwKCAjwh-CVBhB8EiwAjF


Photo by Luca Bravo on Unsplash
This article was originally published in The Global Forum on July 15, 2022

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0622.103.01.071522

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