We explain why forests are great allies against global warming

2 days entirely devoted to the protection of tropical forests, an envelope of 100 million euros intended for countries wishing to accelerate their environmental protection strategy, this is basically what should be remembered from the One Forest Summit, which comes just a few weeks after COP15 Biodiversity in Montreal, Canada.

This new meeting co-organized by France and Gabon was in no way intended to take new environmental measures but rather “to think about concrete actions for the climate. »

Finally, it should be noted that the event was widely criticized by part of the Gabonese population: for the opposition, the One Forest Summit would above all aim to green the image of Ali Bongo, the outgoing president of the country and current candidate for his re-election in 2023.

Forests, the second largest carbon sinks in the world

On the environmental side, tropical forests are considered important allies in the fight against global warming. The largest on the planet (located in the Amazon and Central Africa) would even have eliminated, between 2001 and 2019, twice as much CO2 as they produce.

This superpower is due to a biological phenomenon called photosynthesis: Thanks to it, trees and plants in general “breathe” by absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2) and releasing oxygen.

Small problem, in some areas of the globe the ratio is being reversed. The reasons :

• Deforestation : according to a UN report, it is responsible for the disappearance of 178 million hectares of forest in 30 years (or three times the area of ​​France). And a tree that dies releases into the atmosphere some of the carbon it has stored during its lifetime.
• Temperature rise: which promotes drought, forest fires and slows tree growth

This is how, in a few years, the Amazonian forest began to release more CO2 than it absorbed. And by 2035, the majority of tropical forests could lose their role as “carbon sinks” in the world.

What solutions to better protect forests?

The solutions to improve the protection of forests revolve around 2 main axes:

• The first : preserve existing forests. This is what the last COP15 on biodiversity planned by deciding to make 30% of terrestrial areas protected areas by 2030. On a human scale, the solution lies in limiting our consumption of products from deforestation such as beef, chocolate, palm oil, rubber, etc.

• The second: replant. New forests, in areas where it is necessary to replant identically with the original species. But the most important thing would be above all to create natural spaces where human influence is as minimal as possible.

NOWU it’s the positive medium for getting informed and getting active for the planet! Its mission: to enable young Europeans to become actors in the face of environmental challenges through content that relieves guilt and is focused on solutions.