Introduction
The planting of trees on disturbed lands is a crucial adaptation strategy that entails the strategic use of marginal lands for cultivating trees. This approach improves the climate outcome not only by removing substantial amounts of carbon dioxide, but also provides significant monetary returns. Initial investments are offset by savings in maintenance over the life of the solution. Thus, planting trees decreases atmospheric CO2 and is a financially beneficial decision.
Description and Principle of the Approach
Project Drawdown’s Tree Plantations on Degraded Land initiative strategically plants trees on cultivated land. These tree stands act as carbon stores, sequestering and locking carbon in the ground and in the biomass (North, 2021). The goal is to supplant regular land use, such as annual crop farming on active cultivated land, with tree farms to mitigate climate change.
The data provided indicates that as of 2018, 294.1 million hectares of marginal land had previously been managed for tree plants. The resolution recommends extending this area to 112-174 million acres by 2050 (The Project Drawdown, n.d.). The estimated impact is to sequester 22.04-35.09 gigatons of carbon dioxide emissions, reduce carbon in the atmosphere, and potentially prevent additional deforestation (The Project Drawdown, n.d.).
The financial model suggests an investment cost of USD 91.89-141.68 billion with a net income for the period of USD 2.05-3.17 trillion. This will make a significant contribution to changing the current situation when opinion polls show that most people feel hopeless about climate change, with about 28 percent experiencing climate change (North, 2021). Therefore, greening is an effective answer to the problems associated with global environmental change.
Decrease of CO2
The solution mitigates atmospheric CO2 by removing carbon from trees and land. The absorption rate is valued at 3.3 metric tons of carbon per hectare per year, calculated from 29 measured data items from 13 sources, and is agreed with the estimates of the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (The Project Drawdown, n.d.). By replacing ordinary land use with tree farming, this approach not only stores carbon but also eliminates greenhouse gas pollution that could arise from alternatives.
Financial Implications
The tree plantation strategy is cost-effective in the short and long term. The financial analysis estimates a net initial cost of implementation between US$91.89 billion and US$141.68 billion. Meanwhile, the savings over the life of the policy exceed the initial investment, leaving a net gain of USD 2.05-3.17 trillion (The Project Drawdown, n.d.). This illustrates the economic gains from carbon segregation and stable timber generation on previously undeveloped land far outweigh the investment required initially.
Image Description
The featured image depicts a scenario of a before and after of a devastated land converted into a prosperous tree stand. On the left side, the ground appears barren and undeveloped, representing the state of many areas around the globe. This image is crucial to visually convey the scope of the image, as it shows the potential transformation of degraded land through tree plantations (North, 2021). This image is essential to visually convey the solution’s impact and promise. It underscores the power of restoration in restoring marginalized landscapes, absorbing carbon, and enhancing diversity.
Conclusion
In summary, tree plantations on degraded lands are proving to be a feasible and viable alternative to combat climate action. By converting degraded land to growing plants, the decision aims for carbon sequestration, continuous wood extraction, and environmental restoration. The financial assessment demonstrates that the initial cost is recovered through long-term operational cost savings and substantial net income. While planting trees on disturbed land is not a single-source solution, it is a critically significant part of a wider strategy of ground-based climate change action.
References
The Project Drawdown. (n.d.). Degraded lands (Degraded land). Web.
North, A. (2021). How to fight climate despair. Vox. Web.