Plants growing on the forest floor add to this carbon store. Over time, branches, leaves, and other materials fall to the forest floor and may store carbon until they decompose. R eforestation should be given priority by governments all over the world. They must ensure that deforestation activities are stopped. To succeed in this they have to provide alternative sources of energy to the people who depend on fuelwood for cooking and heating.
L ike the trees, the oceans also act as natural sinks taking in carbon dioxide.
The oceans influence the climate by absorbing and storing carbon dioxide. Climate change is caused by the accumulation of man-made carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Scientists believe that the oceans currently absorb almost half of the carbon dioxide produced by the burning of fossil fuels. C oral reefs, often referred to as the forests of the oceans, are one of the main sinks that take in a large amount of carbon dioxide. Plankton present in the oceans, found mainly in the areas where the warm currents meet the cold currents, is an aquatic plant that, like terrestrial plants, takes in carbon dioxide during the process of photosynthesis.