Future of the Environment

Massive reforestation is key to averting a climate catastrophe

Trees are a highly effective carbon sink. Image: REUTERS/Peter Henderson

Mark Maslin

Professor of Earth System Science, UCL

Simon Lewis

Professor of Global Change Science, University of Leeds and UCL

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Future of the Environment

Trees absorb CO₂ from the air and store the carbon as bark and other tissue. Image: Mark Maslin, Author provided

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Where the billion hectares of forest could be planted – excluding desert, farmland and urban areas. Image: Crowther Lab, Author provided
How all of that new forest would look, alongside what’s already there. Image: Crowther Lab, Author provided
Radically reducing carbon emissions and absorbing the carbon that’s already in the atmosphere will be necessary to avert catastrophic climate change. Image: Mark Maslin, Author provided
Tree planting schemes in Mexico have helped the country restore 63,000 hectares of forest since 2009. Image: EPA/Jose Mendez

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Related topics:

Future of the EnvironmentClimate ChangeUnited StatesForests

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