Planting trees has often been the first line of defence against global warming. Trees, after all, cool the atmosphere by drinking in the carbon dioxide from the air. Scientists say that trees absorb and store the key greenhouse gases emitted by cars and power plants. All plants absorb carbon dioxide but trees process significantly more than smaller plants do, due to their large size and extensive and root structures.
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Says environmentalist Subhas Datta, "In essence, trees are like the kings of the plant world. They have much more "woody biomass" to store carbon dioxide than smaller plants." Subsequently, they are considered nature's most efficient carbon sinks.
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According to Datta, certain trees are better absorbents of carbon dioxide than others. "There 'carbon traps' usually grow quickly and live long," says Datta. Unfortunately, both qualities cannot be found together in foliage. Normally younger trees grow faster but their older partners are better absorbents.
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It has been found that trees that grow slower can store much more carbon over their significantly longer lives. A study shows that tropical, evergreen forests are better at tackling global warming. According to a study by Dr Govindasamy Bala of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, evergreens like confers and red cedar, "cut down on emissions and help keep the planet cool." Dr Bala also observes that the further a person moves away from the equator these gains are eroded. According to researchers, planting trees in mid and high latitude locations do not have similar effects. In fact, on the contrary they could increase temperatures by 2100.
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Therefore, you need to plant the right tree at the right location to avail of the benefits of carbon sequestration. If one takes the US into consideration, each specific region will have a tree that is the best absorbent in that region. For instance, in Hawaii, it is the eucalyptus; loblolly pine acts best as an absorbent in the Southeast while poplars are best in the Great Lakes.
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Stan Wullschleger, who is a researcher at Tennessee's Oak Ridge National Laboratory specialising in the physiological response of plants to global climate change, observes that there are dozens of tree species that could be planted depending on location, soil and climate.
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It is prudent to remember that ultimately a tree of any shape, size or genetic origin can help absorb carbon dioxide. "The least expensive option is to plant a tree in your garden (if you have one) as it will help offset the production of carbon dioxide," suggests Datta.
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Trees that are low maintenance are the best absorbents. This has been pointed out by Dave Nowak, a researcher at the US Forest Service's Northern Research Station in Syracuse, New York. While studying the use of trees for carbon sequestration in 2002, he discovered that trees like the common horse-chestnut, black walnut, London plane, American Sweetgum, Douglas fir, ponderosa pine, red pine, white pine, hispaniolan pine, scarlet oak, red oak, Virginia live oak and bald cypress are very good at absorbing and storing carbon dioxide. In his research paper, Nowak advises urban land developers to avoid trees that require a lot of maintenance, as the burning of fossil fuels to power equipment like trucks and chainsaws will only erase the carbon absorption gains otherwise made.
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So, if you want to tackle global warming, all that you need to do is to plant a neem tree in your garden or anywhere in the vicinity! Simple, isn't is?
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