Is reforestation the solution to global warming?

23rd
NOV

Is reforestation the solution to global warming?

Posted by Michael under Leadership

At the EO24 London event on 19th November, held at the Adam Street Club, Bill Liao spoke as part of the series of Entrepreneurs’ Organisation events taking place around the world in recognition of Global Entrepreneurship Week. And according to Liao, noted entrepreneur and philanthropist, reforestation is not only the solution to global warming, but also the answer to poverty and water shortages.

His presentation was striking and revealed that:

• 50% of the world’s rainforests have been lost in the last 60 years
• Tropical deforestation causes 20% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions – and is often the result of removing trees to grow soy and corn to make biofuel to meet our oil addiction
• Forests regulate the water cycle by storing and redistributing water throughout their eco-system. Deforested lands often become deserts
• Forests absorb excess carbon dioxide, limiting the effects of global warming
• Reforestation can reduce temperatures by 5 degrees Celsius, and when combined with suitable agriculture, provides food and jobs as well as reducing reliance on chemicals used as fertilisers
• A forest can increase cloud cover and rainfall by as much as a quarter
• Properly designed permaculture ‘food forests’ can feed ten people, per acre, indefinitely. An acre of wheat feeds less than five, and requires water, pesticides and fertilisers
• Perhaps most importantly: reforesting just half of the world’s barren croplands and wastelands could lead to an extra 2% of cloud cover, and Liao says this would halt global warming, giving the world time to develop technology to resolve the problem altogether.

Wombat Is reforestation the solution to global warming? In addition to Liao’s fascinating presentation, those attending were treated to the simple and vital message of the Global Mind Shift Wombat.