Trees absorb a fifth of carbon emissions pumped out by humans

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Trees are responsible for absorbing a fifth of man's climate change emissions, scientists have discovered, in the most compelling evidence yet on the need to stop deforestation.

 

 

 

 

By Louise Gray, Envirionment Correspondent Last Updated: 9:51PM GMT 18 Feb 2009

 

 

Deforestation: The study suggest trees are currently sucking up a significant amount of global pollution from factories and cars Photo: EPA

Previous studies on the value of the rainforests had concentrated on South America and Asia.

But new research has included tropical forests in Africa to give the most up-to-date picture of the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by trees. It found 4.8 billion tonnes of CO2 are sucked up every year.

The study suggest trees are currently sucking up a significant amount of global pollution from factories and cars but if carbon emissions continue to increase forests will die or even burn out, causing a "feed back" effect that will accelerate climate change.

The research is being hailed as a breakthrough for climate change science and will be used to put further pressure on world leaders to halt deforestation.

The 40-year study of African tropical forests, one third of the world's total tropical forest, showed that for at least the last few decades each hectare of intact African forest has trapped an extra 0.6 tonnes of carbon per year.

Scientists then added the new data to existing information on South American and Asian forests. The final analysis of 250,000 tree records was published in Nature.

Dr Simon Lewis, a Royal Society research fellow at the University of Leeds and author of the paper, said: "We are receiving a free subsidy from nature.

"Tropical forest trees are absorbing about 18 per cent of the CO2 added to the atmosphere each year from burning fossil fuels, substantially buffering the rate of climate change."

Dr Lewis said the trees could be mopping up even more carbon dioxide than before because CO2 already in the atmosphere is acting like a fertiliser, but man could not rely on them forever.

"Even if we preserve all remaining tropical forest, these trees will not continue getting bigger indefinitely," he added.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has estimated that human activity emits 32 billion tonnes of CO2 each year, but only 15 billion tonnes actually stays in the atmosphere adding to climate change. The new research shows exactly where some of the 'missing' 17 billion tonnes per year is going.

It is particularly important in the run up to the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen at the end of this year when world leaders will decide a new Kyoto Protocol, including international agreements to halt deforestation.

David Ritter, forest campaigner at Greenpeace UK, said the new findings would put pressure on the world to act. But he warned slowing deforestation should not be seen as a substitute for cutting man made carbon emissions, which make up the bulk of greenhouse gases.

"This groundbreaking research reveals how these rainforests are providing a massive service to mankind by absorbing carbon dioxide from our factories, power stations and cars, " he said. "The case for forest protection has never been stronger, but we must not allow our politicians to use this as an excuse to avoid sweeping emissions cuts here in the UK."