Trying to turn the tide of deforestation

Deforestation brought about by excessive logging has contributed to greenhouse gas emissions and undermined the ecosystems and sustainability of local economies. Well managed and cultivated tree plantations create fruits, leaves, bark and roots, firewood, building materials and healthy trees also help maintain an area’s ecosystems by recycling nutrients, prevent erosion and maintain moderate water flows. Tree logging can clear land for arable farming and growing new crops - but a recent report in the journal Science found that the economic benefits were short term in nature.

David Shukman reports on a plan to grow 24 million trees to soak up carbon dioxide and restore the rainforest have got underway in Ghana - a country where four fifths of its forests have been destroyed. Critical to the success of the project will be protection of property rights including giving local families secure land tenure for the new trees that are being planted.

Creating tree plantations contributes to fresh CO2 emissions of course - but given that 18% of greenhouse gas emissions are caused by tropical deforestation and that deforestation increases the risks of major economic and social collapse through flood damage, investment in new plantations perhaps as part of the Clean Development Mechanism seems a small price to pay.

Deforestation faster in Africa (BBC news)