{"id":6376,"date":"2023-11-13T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-11-13T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/?p=6376"},"modified":"2023-11-13T08:00:00","modified_gmt":"2023-11-13T16:00:00","slug":"forest-climate-research","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/in\/news\/stories\/forest-climate-research\/","title":{"rendered":"Significant New Research Validates the Importance of Forests as a Climate Solution"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cOne trillion trees\u201d has become a global movement and a symbol of ecosystem protection and restoration. It started with a revolutionary study<\/a>, co-authored by Crowther Lab<\/a>, about the role of forests in combating climate change. What followed was the launch<\/a> of 1t.org<\/a> with an audacious but simple goal: conserve, restore, and grow 1 trillion trees by 2030. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Salesforce has been a proud supporter of the movement, co-founding 1t.org with the World Economic Forum (WEF), and committing to conserve and restore 100 million trees by 2030. The company has also provided its technology to help create WEF\u2019s UpLink<\/a> digital platform that is bringing together companies of all sizes to develop climate solutions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

New research from 200+ scientists on the potential of forests to meet climate goals<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Today, the Crowther Lab<\/a> research team at ETH Z\u00fcrich published a new study in Nature<\/a> co-authored by more than 220 scientists. The study reaffirms the importance of natural, biodiverse forests in combating climate change. It demonstrates the significant carbon drawdown potential of conserving and restoring natural forests, along with the benefits it creates for local communities, indigenous people, and biodiversity.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Importantly, the science also highlights that natural forests are no substitute for cutting greenhouse gas emissions or phasing out fossil fuels. This is particularly important as a heating climate will limit forests\u2019 ability to absorb carbon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need to redefine what restoration means to many people. Restoration is not about mass tree plantations to offset carbon emissions,\u201d said Dr. Thomas Crowther, professor of Ecology at ETH Zurich. \u201cRestoration means directing the flow of wealth towards millions of local communities, indigenous populations, farmers, and foresters that promote biodiversity across the globe. Only when healthy biodiversity is the viable choice for local communities will we get long-term carbon capture as a bi-product.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The science is clear: trees and natural, biodiverse forests are a crucial part of reaching our global climate goals. We can\u2019t solve the climate crisis with trees alone \u2013 but we can\u2019t solve it without them, either.<\/p>\nSuzanne DiBianca, Chief Impact Officer and EVP of Corporate Relations at Salesforce<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe science is clear: trees and natural, biodiverse forests are a crucial part of reaching our global climate goals. We can\u2019t solve the climate crisis with trees alone \u2013 but we can\u2019t solve it without them, either,\u201d said Suzanne DiBianca, Chief Impact Officer and EVP of Corporate Relations at Salesforce. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key findings from the study include:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Forests have the potential to capture 226 Gigatons (Gt) of carbon<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Due to ongoing deforestation, the carbon stored in global forests is approximately 328 Gt below the natural state. Outside of urban and agricultural areas, the study highlights that forests could capture approximately 226 Gt if they were allowed to recover in regions with low human footprint. This represents 30% of the world\u2019s carbon drawdown targets<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. This potential can only be achieved with a healthy diversity of species. <\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Biodiversity \u2014 or the variety of plants and animals in a specific area \u2013 accounts for approximately 50% of the forest\u2019s productivity. This underscores the need to protect existing natural forests and restore degraded areas, in ways that are contextually appropriate and viable for local communities. Monoculture plantations won\u2019t achieve the carbon capture needed and may in fact reduce carbon storage dramatically. <\/p>\n\n\n\n