Study Suggests , Old Growth Forests , Could Store Huge Amounts of Carbon.<br />According to a new study, forest conservation <br />and restoration could be a key part of <br />Earth's efforts to tackle the climate crisis.<br />'The Guardian' reports that scientists found that <br />allowing existing trees to grow old could remove <br />226 gigatons of carbon from the atmosphere.<br />The amount is roughly equivalent <br />to almost 50 years of the <br />United States emission levels for 2022. .<br />However, the same study warns that mass <br />monoculture tree-planting and offsetting <br />efforts will not help forests thrive in the future. .<br />The team's research, published on November 13 <br />in the journal 'Nature,' is part of a collaboration <br />between hundreds of leading ecologists.<br />The team estimate that about 61% of forests' carbon <br />consuming potential could be achieved by protecting <br />existing forests and allowing them to mature. .<br />The study suggests that the remaining <br />39% could be realized by restoring forests <br />that have already been cleared by humans.<br />The study suggests that the remaining <br />39% could be realized by restoring forests <br />that have already been cleared by humans.<br />Most of the world’s forests are highly <br />degraded. In fact, many people have <br />never been in one of the few old <br />growth forests that remain on Earth, Lidong Mo, Lead author of the study, via 'The Guardian'.<br />'The Guardian' reports that the researchers highlight <br />the importance of biodiversity in allowing forests to <br />achieve their potential to help fight climate change.<br />It can be achieved by <br />millions of local communities, <br />Indigenous communities, farmers and <br />foresters who promote biodiversity. , Tom Crowther, Head of the Crowther Lab <br />at ETH Zurich, via 'The Guardian'.<br />It could be agroforestry for <br />cacao, coffee or banana, natural <br />regeneration, rewilding or creating <br />habitat corridors. They’re successful <br />when nature becomes the economic <br />choice. It’s not easy but it’s doable, Tom Crowther, Head of the Crowther Lab <br />at ETH Zurich, via 'The Guardian'
