{"id":51847,"date":"2023-08-02T22:54:18","date_gmt":"2023-08-02T20:54:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ecobnb.com\/blog\/?p=51847"},"modified":"2025-11-10T17:09:09","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T16:09:09","slug":"planting-trees-growing-centuries-old-forests","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ecobnb.com\/blog\/2023\/08\/planting-trees-growing-centuries-old-forests\/","title":{"rendered":"Planting trees: good, but growing ancient forests: Better!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Planting trees<\/strong> and growing forests<\/strong> are ever more current topics. Trees symbolize hope, regeneration and transformation. Plants are increasingly touted as a simple, affordable and easy-to-implement solution to stop climate change<\/strong>. But will planting trees really save us? We know that its benefits<\/strong><\/a> are numerous, but unfortunately it seems not to be enough to stop the ongoing climate change. According to experts<\/a>, in order to stop global warming, we need to preserve forests and growing new ones<\/strong> that can become centuries-old, ecosystems<\/strong> that become treasures of biodiversity. Let’s see why. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can planting trees save the planet?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Forest near Savona, Italy, photo by Ecobnb<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Indeed, trees are of great help in removing human-caused CO2 emissions<\/strong>. Through photosynthesis, plants are able to extract carbon dioxide from the air and use it to grow leaves, branches and roots. The forest floor itself can store carbon and act as a veritable reservoir of CO2<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to a mapping<\/a> done by scientists, on earth there are more than 3 trillion trees<\/a>. It’s approximately half the number of trees that existed before the rise of human civilization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And while centuries-old forests, like the Amazon, continue to experience erosion by deforestation, initiatives <\/strong>appear everywhere to plant<\/strong> thousands, millions or even a trillion trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Governments and businesses at international level are becoming more interested in ambitious planting projects with the dual objectives of offsetting current<\/strong> emissions<\/strong> and absorbing greenhouse gases<\/strong>, stuck in the atmosphere for decades or more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reality, however, is more complex than it would first appear. Experts believe that the mere fact of planting a large number of trees<\/strong> won’t save us from climate change. It is important to understand why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The limitations of planting programs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Photo via Canva PRO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The most popular planting programs<\/strong> plant trees and then cut them down after 20-25 years. These cutting initiatives, such as FSC and PEFC, encourage a dual monetization of the plant:<\/p>\n\n\n\n