Governments worldwide have recognized the urgent need to combat climate change by pledging to plant trees, aiming to reduce carbon emissions and combat extreme heat.
The United States, too, has set forth ambitious tree-planting schemes, but a recent study reveals a significant obstacle – the country lacks the capacity to grow enough tree seedlings to support these plans effectively.
Conducted by 13 scientists who examined 605 plant nurseries across 20 northern states, the study found that less than 10% of these nurseries grow and sell seedlings in volumes suitable for large-scale conservation efforts.
Furthermore, forest nurseries primarily focus on maintaining a limited inventory of commercially valuable timber-producing trees, resulting in a shortage of seedlings suitable for climate-related initiatives.
Peter Clark, a forest ecologist at the University of Vermont and the study’s lead researcher, emphasized the challenge of finding the right species and seed sources to support these ambitious tree-planting plans. Many nurseries lack seedlings adapted to local ecological and climate conditions, making it difficult to implement effective reforestation strategies.
As swaths of the US face persistent and intense heat waves, tree planting becomes crucial to mitigate the effects of climate change.
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The Path to Successful Climate Initiatives
Various cities, including Phoenix, have announced ambitious tree planting initiatives, and on the federal level, the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act allocated funds to the US Forest Service to plant over 1 billion trees in the next nine years. The World Economic Forum also aims to support the planting of 1 trillion trees worldwide by 2030.
However, the success of these plans depends on the availability of tree species that can thrive in local conditions and withstand worsening heat and extreme weather events. Unfortunately, the study revealed a scarcity of “future-climate-suitable” seedling varieties, including those crucial to local ecosystems.
The study also pointed out the declining population of trees like the red spruce, which plays a vital role in sequestering carbon and supporting diverse habitats. The scarcity of such tree species in nurseries raises concerns about their long-term survival and ecological impacts.
The decline of government-funded nurseries has been a contributing factor to the lack of seedlings. Economic challenges have forced many states to close publicly funded nurseries, leading to a loss of knowledge and skilled seed collectors. As a result, nurseries struggle to access diverse seed sources, further hindering their ability to support climate initiatives.
The researchers emphasize the need for substantial investments in expanding both seedling production and diversity in regional nurseries. They propose increased federal and state funding for government-owned and operated tree nurseries and advocate for public seed collection efforts to address this critical shortage.
Efforts to combat climate change through large-scale tree planting initiatives face a significant hurdle in the form of a tree seedling shortage in the US. To realize ambitious climate plans, it is essential for governments to prioritize the expansion and diversity of regional nurseries to meet the demands of conservation and reforestation effectively.
By investing in these nurseries and supporting public seed collection efforts, the nation can take significant strides towards slashing carbon emissions and providing relief from extreme heat.
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Source: The Guardian
