Positive news on growth of forests around world
AN area of forests larger than mainland France has regrown around the world since the turn of the new millennium, a new analysis suggests.
The mapping study from the Trillion Trees project found that nearly 59 million hectares (145 million acres) of forests have grown back worldwide since 2000.
This area of returning woodlands could store the equivalent of 5.9 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide, more than then annual emissions of the US, highlighting the role they could play in tackling the climate crisis, the study said.
But conservationists warn ‘vastly’ more hectares of trees are being burned and cut down each year, and called for support for forest regeneration as part of the climate fight, as well as action to stop deforestation.
The analysis published by Trillion Trees, a joint venture between WWF, BirdLife International and WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society), looks at areas around the world where woodlands are regenerating. They range from active restoration, where native trees and shrubs are planted, to assisted natural regeneration, where the forest is encouraged to regrow by measures such as clearing invasive species or fencing land to prevent grazing, to ‘spontaneous natural regeneration’ where trees come back of their own accord.
The study highlights areas such as the Atlantic Forest in Brazil, where an area of 4.2 million hectares ( 10.4 million acres) has regrown since 2000, through planned efforts to restore the forest, more responsible industry practices and other factors such as people moving towards the cities.