Archive
TREE BARK REMOVES METHANE
05/09/2024
Most of us know about the need to plant more trees to offset the climate catastrophe and attempt to halt or preferably reduce global warming. Many countries, including the UK, have ambitious plans to increase woodlands and forest despite the deforestation that continues in some parts of the world.
Recent work by Professor Gauci and his team at the University of Birmingham has revealed that it is not just the growth of the trees taking up carbon dioxide that is important, but that tree bark, or rather the microbial population within the bark, takes up methane from the atmosphere.
Methane is a much more potent greenhouse gas than CO2[1] even though it stays in the atmosphere for a shorter time. It is thought to be the cause of some 30% of atmospheric heating since before the industrial revolution, so any process that removes it is important in the battle against global warming. Planting more trees is therefore a vital part of the climate battle we face.
It is very encouraging to see this innovative research by Professor Gauci and his team. Their paper is open source, and you can read/download it at https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07592-w.
At Betts Ecology we understand the essential role of tree planting and we promote it wherever we can. It does sometimes lead to concerns about the intrusion of roots and the shading of gardens, but we hope people understand just how vital trees are and will help promote their growth and planting rather then wanting to cut them down.
