Fast-growing monoculture plantations can initially boost the rate of carbon absorption compared to some natural forests, they are generally considered less effective as long-term carbon sinks and have significant environmental drawbacks. The capacity for these plantations to store carbon long-term is often limited, and the potential carbon benefits do not outweigh the ecological damage caused by replacing natural forests .
Fast-growing monoculture plantations can initially boost the rate of carbon absorption compared to some natural forests, they are generally considered less effective as long-term carbon sinks and have significant environmental drawbacks. The capacity for these plantations to store carbon long-term is often limited, and the potential carbon benefits do not outweigh the ecological damage caused by replacing natural forests .
Short-term vs. Long-term Storage: -
Plantations are typically harvested every few decades, releasing much of their stored carbon back into the atmosphere when the wood is processed and the new cycle begins. In contrast, natural forests accumulate carbon for centuries, with old-growth forests storing vast amounts of carbon in their trees, soil, and understory vegetation .
Total Ecosystem Carbon:-
Monocultures typically store carbon only in the trees themselves. Natural forests store a significant amount of carbon below ground in their diverse, complex soil ecosystems and biomass, which is often disturbed and depleted during plantation establishment and harvesting .
Biodiversity and Resilience:-
Replacing diverse natural forests with genetically uniform plantations severely harms biodiversity, impacting the ecosystem's overall health and resilience to stressors like disease, pests, and climate change .
In summary, for effective, long-term climate change mitigation, protecting existing natural forests and promoting their restoration is widely considered a superior strategy to establishing monoculture plantations..
Replacing natural forests with monoculture plantations may boost .
Do plantations really absorb more carbon than natural forests?
They often grow faster at first, so trunks accumulate carbon quickly.
MJF Lion ER YK Sharma
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