Planting trees not always an effective way of binding carbon dioxide

By therese [dot] ek [at] cec [dot] lu [dot] se (Therese Ek) - published 16 September 2022

A magnifying held towards greenary but shows industry polluting air. Photo montage. — Image: IStock

Tree-planting has been widely seen as an effective way of binding carbon as carbon dioxide levels rise in the atmosphere. But now, BECC researcher Louise C Andresen among others, are warning that forests on nutrient-poor land won’t be an additional carbon sink in the long term. As forests age, their uptake of CO2 declines and, each time forests are planted, there is a risk of additional carbon being released from the soil.

BECC researcher at Gothenburg University, Louise C Andresen, is one of the researchers behind a new study which shows that forests on nutrient-poor land won’t be an additional carbon sink in the long term. As forests age, their uptake of CO2 declines and, each time forests are planted, there is a risk of additional carbon being released from the soil.