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Right trees, right place

  • by JW

Ten golden rules for reforestation to optimize carbon sequestration, biodiversity recovery and livelihood benefits

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There are many reasons to plant trees – but it has to be done in the right way:

Planting trees: where, what and why? – Vision Group for Sidmouth

Helen Briggs reports for the BBC on the latest research:

Scientists address myths over large-scale tree planting

Scientists have proposed 10 golden rules for tree-planting, which they say must be a top priority for all nations this decade.

Tree planting is a brilliant solution to tackle climate change and protect biodiversity, but the wrong tree in the wrong place can do more harm than good, say experts at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew…

“Planting the right trees in the right place must be a top priority for all nations as we face a crucial decade for ensuring the future of our planet,” said Dr Paul Smith, a researcher on the study and secretary general of conservation charity, Botanic Gardens Conservation International, in Kew.

All too often natural forests teeming with plants, animals and fungi are replaced by commercial plantations with row upon row of timber trees, which will be harvested after a few decades, she told BBC News.

“What we’re trying to do is to encourage people, wherever possible, to try and recreate forests which are similar to the natural forests and which provide multiple benefits to people, the environment and to nature as well as capturing carbon.”

The review of research, published in the journal Global Change Biology, found that in some cases, planned tree planting does not increase carbon capture and can have negative effects.

With the original piece of research here:

Ten golden rules for reforestation to optimize carbon sequestration, biodiversity recovery and livelihood benefits – Di Sacco – – Global Change Biology – Wiley Online Library

image: Global Change Biology – Wiley Online Library