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Global Climate Change Digest
A Guide to Information on Greenhouse Gases and Ozone Depletion
Published July 1988 through June 1999

FROM VOLUME 1, NUMBER 1, JULY 1988

REPORTS...
WORLD FORESTS

Item #d88jul60

The Prospect of Solving the CO₂ Problem through Global Reforestation (DOE/NBB-0082), G. Marland (Oak Ridge Nat. Lab., Oak Ridge TN 37831), 71 pp., Feb. 1988. Available from NTIS; order no. ERDA-8804-092803, $13.95.

Explores the feasibility of counteracting global CO₂ rise by increasing forest growth sufficiently to incorporate more carbon into woody matter. Estimates that the removal of a significant amount of carbon from the atmosphere would require roughly doubling the net annual yield of all the world's forests, or new fast-growing forests would be needed over an area equivalent to the total of global forest clearing that has occurred to date. Though this could be accomplished by new plantings in large areas or stimulation of tree growth by silvicultural techniques, conflicts in land use and resource allocation would quickly arise. The cost of this approach is immense but should be compared with other means of offsetting climate changes; forestry could at least play a significant role.

A comment on this proposal appears on page 973 of the February 26, 1988 issue of Science.

Item #d88jul61

Reforesting the Earth (Worldwatch Paper 83), L. Heise (Worldwatch Inst., 1776 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington DC 20036; 202-452-1999), S. Postel, Apr. 1988; $4.

Argues that planting trees on degraded Third World land would not only offset global warming by removing CO₂ from the atmosphere, but would also alleviate soil erosion, drought, flooding and chronic fuel shortages. Much of the estimated 10 million hectares of annual forest loss occurs in the tropics, where trees fix up to three times as much carbon as in temperate climates. Recommends replanting 130 million hectares by the year 2000. Farmers in the Third World would have to be convinced of the benefits of tree planting. Recommended initiatives for reforestation include programs involving small local groups that have been successful in the past, greater involvement of non-governmental organizations, and increased matching grants for reforestation projects.

Item #d88jul62

The Forest for the Trees, R. Papetto (World Resour. Inst., 1735 New York Ave. NW, Washington DC 20006; 202-638-6300), May 1988. Order from WRI Pub., Box 620, Holmes PA 19043; $12.

Documents findings of an international team of researchers that investigated economic losses associated with forest depletion in 10 countries. Government policies in many countries accelerate forest destruction, especially in the tropics. Discussions of the causes of tropical deforestation have often overlooked the powerful role of government subsidies and other economic policies; unchanged, these policies can overwhelm conservation and reforestation. Specific forestry policies and their side effects are discussed, and several detailed policy recommendations are made for national governments, industrial countries and international agencies.

Also available at no charge from WRI: Expanding the Role of Non-Governmental Organizations in National Forestry Programs, P.T. Hazelwood, May 1988. Summarizes the main conclusions and recommendations of three regional workshops in Africa, Asia and Latin America, held to provide a forum for NGOs to comment on the Tropical Forestry Action Plan. The workshops also promoted dialogue among NGOs, governments, and development assistance agencies, to increase the effectiveness of efforts to halt tropical deforestation.