One more reason we need to plant more trees

If a tree falls in the forest....

Canadian forests are now adding CO2 to the atmosphere instead of capturing it according to recently released series of studies conducted by the Canadian Forest Service.

Trees, of course, absorb CO2 as they grow. But the exact opposite happens when they die or are cut down. The stored CO2 is released back into the atmosphere.

As average global temperatures rise, we are seeing a multiplying effect as various factors are killing massive areas of forest (especially in BC). Warmer temperatures have increased the rate of forest fires and have allowed insects such as the Pine Beetle which directly feed on trees to flourish during the recent milder winters. This is in addition to the effects contributed from our logging industry.

Canada's forest's account for 7% of the forest lands on earth and have long been considered the "lungs of the planet".

To illustrate the alarming nature of the problem -

The Kyoto protocol requires participating countries submit data and carbon emission calculations.

Countries under the Kyoto protocol are permitted to count forest lands as credits, or offsets, when calculating their national carbon emissions.

When the Canadian government submitted plans and carbon emission calculations to the 2007 Kyoto compliance committee - they choose not to include Canada's 1.2 million sq. miles of forest lands as a credit to offest other carbon emissions.

The Canadian Environment Ministry forecast analysis prepared for the government showed at that time there is a probability that forests would constitute a net source of greenhouse gas emissions.

On the outside the problems seem simple to solve:

• Find a way to kill the insects attacking the forests
• Reduce logging
• Plant more trees to replace the ones that are cut down or dying

However some of these simple solutions may actually further multiply the damages.

Efforts to kill and control the various insect populations have proved ineffective. The rate of multiplication has been incredible according to forestry scientists and attacking the problem with pesticides poses significant corollary issues such as soil contamination, exposing people and wildlife to these harsh chemicals which would have to be sprayed over hundreds of thousands of sq. miles to contain the infestations.

Reducing logging would be and easy solution if the reason the tress were cut down was eliminated. Wood used in the construction trade for example would have to be replaced with other materials such as plastic, steel and concrete (one of the biggest contributors to CO2 emissions). Save the carbon emissions in the forest and we dramatically increase the emissions from other industry.

This highlights why I feel the work of Toronto Region Conservation and the plantyourtree.ca program is so important. Young trees absorb more CO2 as they grow than mature trees..

The TRCA goal to plant 500,000 trees has numerous benefits for our city. The trees that are planted;

• Will provide clean air for over 1,000,000 people
• Offset CO2 emission from the busiest city in Canada
• Helping manage water flows which reduces the levels of flood waters durning peak rain falls (remember Steeles Ave. getting washed away near Jane St. a few years ago?)
• Provides shelter for wildlife animals displaced by urban sprawl (I'd rather see Raccoons and Foxes in the woods than at my curb on garbage day)
• Absorb airborne pollutants which have been shown to directly contribute to an increase in breathing illness such as Asthma in children and the elderly

I appreciate all of those who support the plantyourtree.ca program, but we still have a lot of work to do.

Please consider giving your customers and employees the gift of a tree.

To learn how your company can use our gift cards for your next promotion or event, contact me directly at trahaman@plantyourtree.ca or 416-912-9949.