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The oldest trees are able to respond and adapt to their environment. Scientists at the University of Birmingham in the UK exposed a 180-year-old English oak forest to high levels of carbon dioxide for seven years.
In response, trees increase wood production, absorbing greenhouse gases and helping to combat global warming.
The researchers hope that the study, published in Nature Climate Change, will demonstrate the importance of protecting and maintaining mature forests in response to climate change.
It is estimated that an area of primary forest the size of a football field disappears every six seconds around the world.
“I think This is a story of hope and positivity.” said Professor Rob McKenzie, Director of the Birmingham Forest Research Institute and one of the co-authors of the study.
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“This is evidence in favor of careful management of existing forests. Ancient forests do a lot for us. “We definitely shouldn’t be cutting them down,” he said.
The findings of this latest study come from the University of Birmingham’s Large Open Air CO2 Enrichment (FACE) experiment, which has been led by Professor MacKenzie since its launch in 2016.
FACE is located on 21 hectares of woodland in Staffordshire. Understand the impacts of climate change on forests in real time.
The site contains a group of 180-year-old English oak trees, and between the majestic canopies more than 40 meters high, scholars have connected a network of pipes.
These pipelines emit carbon dioxide (CO2) every day, a gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect.which recreates the situation the world could face if no action is taken to reduce emissions.
After seven years of monitoring, FACE’s international team of researchers found that: Oak trees increase productivity The carbon dioxide levels are so high.
Trees They produce nearly 10% of the wood produced. Retaining carbon dioxide for many years and preventing it from warming the atmosphere.
When trees absorb carbon dioxide, they can use it in different ways: Produce new leaf, root or woody biomass.
More storage space
New leaves and roots are thought to act as short-term stores of carbon dioxide because they break off or die relatively frequently, releasing the gas back into the atmosphere.
But researchers found that most of the carbon dioxide into a form that allows them to be stored For decades.
Previous experiments have shown that young trees can increase their carbon dioxide absorption rate, but It is thought that more mature forests do not have the same adaptability.
Professor McKenzie told the BBC it was important for the team to understand how old trees behave because they make up the majority of global tree cover.
Despite the positive results, he warned: “It’s by no means a panacea.” And totally not paying for our fossil fuel emissions.”
“We have absolutely no way to turn the world into Enough forests for us to keep burning Like we are doing now with fossil fuels,” he said.
The experiment has been extended until 2031 so that researchers can continue to monitor the oak and See if this behavior persists.
“It’s critical that the FACE experiment continue for longer periods of time because we know the answers will change over time,” said Richard Norby, an author of the study and a research professor at the University of Tennessee. Long-term track record will increase our confidence in the results”.
They also hope to study the effects of rising carbon dioxide levels on tree lifespan and the impact on other biodiversity, such as insects.
When doing this experiment, Scientists observe increase in some insect species This may be due to different air conditions. (Yo)
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