Humans are releasing tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere due to our lifestyles and technologies. According to the vast majority of scientists, the earth is getting warmer as a result. These changes are projected to have devastating effects if we don’t slow down emissions quickly.
What can we do to return earth to a better balance? One of the solutions is reducing the amount of CO2 that we release and another is to increase the CO2 that is absorbed. It turns out that our forests and plants are an important part of the fix. They exist by taking in CO2 from the atmosphere and releasing oxygen. Just the opposite of humans – we take in oxygen and breathe out CO2.
The plant world provides a double blessing by producing both food and oxygen. It gets energy directly from sunlight through a process called photosynthesis. The word “photo” is the Greek root word for light while “synthesis” means the combination of elements into a whole. Hence, the word photosynthesis describes a process in which light is united with water, CO2 and other minerals to create oxygen and other energy rich compounds. That’s how forests, our photosynthesis machines, can help reduce the risks of climate change. And that’s why they are so important to all animals including us. They provide a good part of our diet and the air we breathe.
Photosynthesis involves numerous chemical reactions in two stages; the light stage and the dark stage. The light stage involves light capturing reactions while the dark stage involves breaking down CO2 to its organic compounds and releasing oxygen. There are several factors that influence the rate of photosynthesis; among these factors are the amount of light, the carbon dioxide supply, temperature, water supply and the availability of minerals. In a single year, this process helps one tree absorb as much as 48 pounds of carbon dioxide. After forty years, that one tree will absorb one ton of CO2. Imagine a forest made up of millions of trees and its effect on our world. It explains why forests are so important to our future and why their maintenance is a central part of any climate change solution.