Diverse forests hold huge carbon potential, as long as we cut emissions

Research results published in the journal Nature show that realistic global forest carbon potential is approximately 226 gigatonnes (Gt) of carbon. According to ETH Zürich in Switzerland, the study, which involved hundreds of scientists around the world, highlights the critical importance of forest conservation, restoration and sustainable management in moving towards international climate and biodiversity targets. The researchers stress that this potential can be achieved by incentivising community-​driven efforts to promote biodiversity.

The forest carbon potential – a highly controversial topic
 

Four years ago, a study published in the journal Science found that the restoration of forests could capture over 200 Gt of carbon – which could draw down approximately 30 per cent of excess anthropogenic carbon. While this study elevated a discussion about the role of nature in fighting climate change, it also raised concerns around the adverse environmental impacts of mass tree plantations, carbon offsetting schemes and greenwashing. While some scientific studies have supported the scale of this finding, others argued that this forest carbon estimate could be up to four or five times too high.

To address this controversial topic, an international team of hundreds of researchers led by the Crowther Lab at ETH Zurich joined forces to build an integrated assessment using a comprehensive range of approaches, including vast ground-​sourced data and satellite datasets.

Achieving forest carbon potential
 

Due to ongoing deforestation, the total amount of carbon stored in forests is roughly 328 Gt below its natural state. Of course, much of this land is used for extensive human development including urban and agricultural land. However, outside of those areas, researchers found that forests could capture approximately 226 Gt carbon in regions with a low human footprint if they were allowed to recover. Around existing forests, so that they can recover to maturity. The remaining 39 per cent can be achieved by reconnecting fragmented forest landscapes through sustainable ecosystem management and restoration.

The dataset revealed that biodiversity accounts for approximately half of the global forest productivity. As such, the researchers highlighted that, to achieve the full carbon potential, restoration efforts should include a natural diversity of species. In addition, sustainable agricultural, forestry, and restoration practices that promote biodiversity have the greatest potential for carbon capture.

Redefining restoration
 

The authors stress that responsible restoration is a fundamentally social endeavour. It includes countless actions such as conservation, natural regeneration, rewilding, silviculture, agroforestry and all other community-​driven efforts to promote biodiversity. It requires equitable development, driven by policies that prioritise the rights of local communities and Indigenous people.

“We need to redefine what restoration means to many people,” said Thomas Crowther, the senior author of the paper. “Restoration is not about mass tree plantations to offset carbon emissions. Restoration means directing the flow of wealth towards millions of local communities, Indigenous populations and farmers that promote biodiversity across the globe. Only when healthy biodiversity is the preferred choice for local communities will we get long-​term carbon capture as a by-product.”

The researchers conclude that ecologically responsible forest restoration does not include the conversion of other ecosystems that would not naturally contain forests. “Global restoration is not only about trees,” said Constantin Zohner, a senior researcher at ETH Zurich. “We have to protect natural biodiversity in all ecosystems, including grasslands, peatlands and wetlands that are equally essential for life on Earth.”

This study brings to light the critical importance of natural, diverse forests in contributing to 30 per cent of carbon drawdown potential. However, forests cannot be a substitute for cutting fossil fuel emissions. If emissions continue to rise, the study warns, then on-​going droughts, fires, and warming will threaten forests and limit their ability to absorb carbon.

(ETHZ/wi)

Reference:

Mo L, Zohner CM, Reich PB, et al. Integrated global assessment of the natural forest carbon potential. Nature, published online 13^th November 2023, DOI: external page10.1038/s41586-​023-06723-zcall_made

Related articles can be found in the No 2/2021 issue of Rural21 with the focus on Biodiversity