Older Trees Accelerate Absorption of Greenhouse Gases, Birmingham Study Finds
A team of researchers at the University of Birmingham has discovered that mature oak trees can significantly increase their rate of carbon dioxide absorption when exposed to elevated levels of the greenhouse gas. In a 7-year study conducted at the university's Free-Air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment (FACE) experiment site, the 180-year-old oak trees were found to produce nearly 10% more wood under conditions simulating higher atmospheric CO2 concentrations.
This additional wood production acts as a long-term carbon sink, locking away the absorbed CO2 for decades. In contrast, the researchers noted that the trees' increased leaf and root growth, while also enhancing CO2 uptake, represents a more temporary storage as those plant tissues can eventually shed or die, releasing the carbon back into the air.
Professor Rob MacKenzie, director of the Birmingham Institute of Forest Research and a co-author of the study published in Nature Climate Change, called the findings a "hopeful and positive story" for the role mature forests can play in mitigating climate change. He emphasized the importance of protecting and carefully managing established woodlands, rather than clearing them, to harness this carbon sequestration potential.
The FACE experiment site in Staffordshire simulates future climate conditions by piping elevated levels of CO2 into a 52-acre forested area. Researchers monitor the real-time impacts on the 40-meter tall oak canopy, providing crucial data on how temperate forests may respond as greenhouse gas emissions continue rising globally. With estimates that a football field of primary forest is lost every 6 seconds, the Birmingham team hopes this research will highlight the value of preserving mature tree stands.
Reference: Esme S. (12 Aug, 2024) Mature Trees: A Glimmer of Hope Amidst Surging Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1d7p0n1e3ro Mature trees offer hope in world of rising emissions
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