Trees can be a key part of the climate solution, but first we need to rethink the concept of “permanence” when it comes to forests. Whether it is “immediacy,” “durability” or permanence, time plays a key role in effective climate action. Accounting for time correctly unlocks the full potential of forests and other nature-based climate solutions.
A recent New York Times editorial urged, “Let’s Not Pretend Planting Trees Is a Permanent Climate Solution.” And it’s true: Like any other organism, trees are born, grow old, and die in an ongoing cycle. No individual tree will live forever.
There is no permanence in nature, yet permanence is often considered an important part of forest carbon programs. Many forest carbon credits represented as permanent have decidedly finite time horizons, often 100 years or less. Several “permanent” forest carbon projects have even burned up in California wildfires. Read more…
