From Tidepool.org
SEPTEMBER.22.2000
http://www.ecotrust.org
http://www.nytimes.com/2000/09/22/science/22FORE.html
Old Forests Needed For Carbon Storage
A new study has cast doubts on an important element of a proposed treaty to
fight global warming: the planting of new forests in an effort to sop up
carbon dioxide, a heat-trapping gas. The research concludes that old, wild
forests are far better than plantations of young trees at ridding the air of
carbon dioxide, which is released when coal, oil and other fossil fuels are
burned. The United States and other countries with large land masses want to
use forest plantations to meet the goals of the proposed treaty. The study's
authors say that any treaty also needs to protect old forests and that, so
far there is no sign that such protections are being considered. Without
such protections, the scientists conclude, some countries could be tempted
to cut down old forests now and then plant new trees on the deforested land
later, getting credit for reducing carbon dioxide when they have actually
made matters worse. (9-22-00) From the New York Times.
http://seattlep-i.nwsource.com/national/warm02.shtml
US Proposes Using Forests To Fight Global Warming (8-2-00) From the Seattle
http://www.georgiastrait.org/
|