They conclude that less carbon can be sequestered than they thought through the trees.

2025/09/08 Galarraga Aiestaran, Ana - Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Ingurumena
• Klima
• Botanika

Tree plantations and reforestation are among the most popular measures to combat climate change. A study published in the journal Science, however, reveals that much less surface area than previously thought is suitable for planting and forest formation. In fact, it has been estimated that about 389 million hectares are useful, about half of what some previous estimates have said.

To reach this conclusion, researchers have excluded areas previously considered useful: cities, farmland, places at risk of biodiversity loss, and areas with insufficient water. They also excluded areas covered by snow and those that reflect heat, as these places are already effective in mitigating climate change.

Covering all areas suitable for tree plantations and reforestation with trees and plants, they previously believed that by 2050 40 billion tons of carbon could be sequestered from the atmosphere. With the current estimates, however, it would only be 12.5 million tonnes.

In light of the outcome, researchers warn that tree plantations and reforestation cannot be considered an appropriate measure to offset deforestation elsewhere, or to rapidly reduce fossil fuel emissions.