Planting trees to help save our planet seems like a great idea. Trees are made up of about half carbon, which makes them excellent at storing carbon. By increasing the number of forests on Earth, we might be able to store about a quarter of the carbon dioxide needed to reduce the worst effects of climate change. That’s why we’re planting around 2 billion trees every year!
However, there’s a catch: if we’re not careful about how we plant trees, we might end up releasing carbon instead of storing it.
One of the first issues is deciding where to plant these carbon-storing trees. An open space might seem ideal, but it could already be part of an ecosystem that stores a lot of carbon. For instance, an acre of native grassland can store up to 80 tons of carbon, which is about two-thirds of what an acre of forest can store. Planting trees in these areas, especially if they are non-native, can harm the grasses, disrupt the ecosystem, and release stored carbon.
The same problem occurs when we plant trees in places like moors and peat bogs. These areas might look empty, but they are actually established ecosystems that store a lot of carbon. Disrupting them to plant new trees can lead to a significant release of carbon. While the trees we plant might eventually absorb some of that released carbon, it could take decades, and we might not have that much time. It’s better to leave ecosystems like grasslands and peat bogs as they are and focus on areas where forests used to exist before being cleared for timber or farmland.
Many tree-planting projects do focus on these deforested areas, but there’s another mistake we often make: planting trees instead of forests. More than half of all international planting projects involve filling deforested areas with rows of one or two types of fast-growing, non-native trees. These projects do remove carbon from the air, but since the trees are usually grown to be harvested, the carbon they store might not stay stored for long. Additionally, these plantings are less diverse than natural forests, which means they store less carbon and are more vulnerable to disease and drought, limiting their ability to store carbon.
To maximize carbon storage and retention, we need to plant forests, not just trees. Protecting our planet from environmental damage involves not only storing carbon but also conserving native plants and animals, maintaining clean water, and ensuring access to food and medicine.
It turns out that planting trees in a way that enhances ecosystem functionality—rather than just maximizing the number of trees—achieves all these goals. In other words, when it comes to planting for our planet, we need to see the forests for the trees.
Special thanks to the Society for Ecological Restoration and its global partners for their support during this production, and to the Convention on Biological Diversity, which is part of the United Nations Environment Programme. Thanks also to Kingsley Dixon and the team at Curtin University and the Centres for Mining Restoration and Healing Country for their support and sponsorship of this video.
Research different ecosystems such as grasslands, peat bogs, and forests. Create a presentation that explains how each ecosystem stores carbon and why it’s important to preserve them. Share your findings with the class to help everyone understand the importance of choosing the right locations for tree planting.
Participate in a simulation game where you make decisions about where and how to plant trees. Consider factors like ecosystem disruption, carbon storage, and biodiversity. Discuss the outcomes with your classmates to learn about the complexities of tree planting projects.
Engage in a classroom debate on the topic of planting trees versus planting forests. Prepare arguments for both sides, focusing on carbon storage, biodiversity, and ecosystem health. This activity will help you understand the nuances of effective reforestation strategies.
Visit a local ecosystem, such as a forest or grassland, to observe how it functions and stores carbon. Take notes on the types of plants and animals you see and discuss how human activities might impact this ecosystem. This hands-on experience will deepen your understanding of ecosystem conservation.
Work in groups to create a model that demonstrates how different ecosystems store carbon. Use materials like clay, paper, and markers to represent various ecosystems and their carbon storage capacities. Present your model to the class to illustrate the importance of strategic tree planting.
**Sanitized Transcript:**
Planting trees to save the planet sounds like a good idea: trees are about half carbon, which means they’re effective carbon-storage devices. By increasing the amount of forested area on Earth, we may be able to store about a quarter of the carbon dioxide needed to mitigate the worst aspects of climate change. That’s why we are planting about 2 billion trees every year!
However, there’s a problem: if we aren’t careful about how we plant trees, we risk releasing carbon instead of storing it.
Hi, I’m Kate, and this is MinuteEarth.
So, issue #1: where should we put these carbon-storing machines? A big open space may seem perfect, but there’s likely an existing ecosystem there that stores a significant amount of carbon. For example, an acre of native grassland can store as much as 80 tons of carbon, which is around two-thirds of what an acre of forest can store. Planting trees in such areas—especially non-native ones—can harm the grasses, disrupt the ecosystem, and release stored carbon.
The same issue arises when we plant trees in places like moors and peat bogs, which may appear empty but are actually established ecosystems that store a lot of carbon. Disrupting these areas to plant new trees can lead to significant carbon release. While the trees we plant may eventually absorb some of that released carbon, it will take decades—time we may not have. It’s better to leave existing ecosystems like grasslands and peat bogs intact and focus our efforts on areas where forests used to exist before they were cleared for timber or farmland.
Many planting projects do occur in these areas, but we often make a different mistake: we plant trees instead of forests. Over half of all international planting projects involve filling deforested areas with rows of one or two types of fast-growing, non-native trees. These projects do pull carbon from the air, but since the trees are usually grown for harvest, the carbon they store may not be retained for long. Additionally, these plantings are less diverse than natural forests, which means they store less carbon and are more susceptible to disease and drought, limiting their carbon-storing capabilities.
To maximize carbon storage and retention, we need to plant forests, not just trees. Protecting our planet from environmental damage involves not only storing carbon but also conserving native plants and animals, maintaining clean water, and ensuring access to food and medicine.
It turns out that planting trees in a way that enhances ecosystem functionality—rather than just maximizing the number of trees—achieves all these goals. In other words, when it comes to planting for our planet, we need to see the forests for the trees.
Special thanks to the Society for Ecological Restoration and its global partners for their support during this production, and to the Convention on Biological Diversity, which is part of the United Nations Environment Programme. Thanks also to Kingsley Dixon and the team at Curtin University and the Centres for Mining Restoration and Healing Country for their support and sponsorship of this video.
Planting – The act of putting seeds or young plants into the soil to grow. – Example sentence: Planting trees in urban areas can help reduce air pollution and improve the environment.
Trees – Large plants with a trunk, branches, and leaves that provide oxygen and habitat for wildlife. – Example sentence: Trees play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of ecosystems by providing shelter and food for various species.
Carbon – A chemical element found in all living organisms, often discussed in terms of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. – Example sentence: Reducing carbon emissions is essential to slowing down climate change and protecting the environment.
Ecosystem – A community of living organisms interacting with each other and their physical environment. – Example sentence: The rainforest is a complex ecosystem that supports a wide variety of plants and animals.
Forests – Large areas covered chiefly with trees and undergrowth, important for biodiversity and climate regulation. – Example sentence: Forests are vital for absorbing carbon dioxide and providing oxygen for us to breathe.
Biodiversity – The variety of plant and animal life in a particular habitat or in the world as a whole. – Example sentence: High biodiversity in an ecosystem can make it more resilient to environmental changes.
Conservation – The protection and preservation of natural resources and the environment. – Example sentence: Conservation efforts are necessary to protect endangered species and their habitats from extinction.
Native – Referring to species that occur naturally in a particular region or environment. – Example sentence: Planting native species in gardens can help support local wildlife and maintain ecological balance.
Climate – The long-term pattern of weather conditions in a particular area. – Example sentence: Changes in climate can have significant impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity around the world.
Restoration – The process of returning an ecosystem or habitat to its original state. – Example sentence: Wetland restoration projects aim to bring back the natural functions and biodiversity of these important ecosystems.
