,
5 tweets,
2 min read
Read on Twitter
1. Global CO₂ emissions from land-use change are stable at ~5GtCO₂/yr (large uncertainty).
How can this be of true if "tree cover has increased by 2.24 million km²" (+7.1% since 1982)?
Because there is forest loss in the tropics but gains elsewhere.
nature.com/articles/s4158…
How can this be of true if "tree cover has increased by 2.24 million km²" (+7.1% since 1982)?
Because there is forest loss in the tropics but gains elsewhere.
nature.com/articles/s4158…
2. Land-use change is complex, with time & area dynamics:
* Gross deforestation is actually ~10GtCO₂, so huge (& cheap) gains from stopping deforestation.
* Forest sinks also increase (green) because trees are fertilized with fossil CO₂ emissions!
science.sciencemag.org/content/333/60…
* Gross deforestation is actually ~10GtCO₂, so huge (& cheap) gains from stopping deforestation.
* Forest sinks also increase (green) because trees are fertilized with fossil CO₂ emissions!
science.sciencemag.org/content/333/60…
3. I reacted to this tweet by @ShellenbergerMD. I sympathize with his points about media exaggeration, but... Tropical deforestation is a huge problem, the gains are not in the tropics & often because of natural regeneration & CO₂ fertilization.
4. Maybe economic growth has played a role in temperate & boreal regeneration (some forest resources are not needed as much), some regeneration due to trade, not sure what role economic growth has played in better fire management (perhaps science has been a bigger driver).
5. Anyway, we can quibble about the drivers, but overall, should I be happy that my arm is growing back whilst someone is sawing off my leg?
/end
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