1  Introduction  - Tom Geary
Channel: ISTF-Global
Date: 09/08/2022

1. Pros and cons of tropical forest restoration/reforestation
Tom Geary, Forest Scientist, Retired, US Forest Service, USA                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide, accumulating in the atmosphere, drive global warming. Trees also accumulate carbon, which they take from the atmosphere as they grow. Intuitively, trees seem ideal for removal of carbon from the atmosphere and storing it for a long time, and therefore, protect against warming. However, strong arguments exist that planting trees for this purpose will not be useful.  Natural regeneration might be useful, but good reasons exist why that this too might not be useful.  The recent book by Bill Gates (co-founder of Microsoft Corporation), How To Avoid A Climate Disaster, The Solutions We Have And The Breakthroughs We Need reinforces these views that trees are not the answer, other than trying to preserve existing forests.  My purpose in the symposium is to open these arguments to discussion.