This is a video from the Economist talking about tree-planting, deforestation, and the criticisms of monocultures. Many companies professing to be restoring forests are actually planting wide areas with just one kind of tree, as it is more profitable. What negative effects can monoculture planting have?
Learn the key phrases!
deforestation
to increase carbon dioxide levels
a kind of panacea
to tackle climate change
to stabilise the climate
to slow the rate of climate change
to avoid massive penalties
monoculture tree plantations
to apply fertilisers
to cut fossil-fuel emissions
Let’s check the main ideas!
- Why is tree planting not always good?
Tree planting may not tackle the problem of climate change, if all of the trees are of one type.
- What’s wrong with monoculture plantations?
When trees in monoculture plantations are harvested, they release much of the carbon stored in their trunks back to the atmosphere.
- Why are there no financial incentives for natural forests?
It’s very difficult to get funding as it is driven by targets and a numbers game. Monoculture plantations are prefered as they make money in the shortest possible time.
- Can humanity neglect reducing fossil fuels emissions by planting trees?
To stabilise the climate, not only do we need to plant trees, but also to offset the carbon emission from fossil fuels as there is just not enough land to tackle climate change by planting trees alone.
I think that…
Share your thoughts!
- Have you ever planted a tree? Describe your experience.
- Are you concerned about deforestation? Why?
- Why is it important to tackle the problem of climate change now more than ever?
Record your audio reply (you may add some text to it). Include a question for others.
Advise a topic for discussion.