Before human civilization, the Earth was home to approximately six trillion trees. Currently, there are just over three trillion trees, which is almost half of the original number.
Thomas Crowther discusses the critical role of biodiversity and ecosystems in addressing climate change and other global threats. He highlights the potential of forest restoration, introduces a data-driven platform called Restor, and emphasizes the need for collective human action to protect and rebuild nature.
The speaker's initial communication, while highlighting the potential of trees for climate change mitigation, was perceived by some as suggesting restoration as the single solution to climate change. This oversimplification led to misunderstandings and concerns that it could be used as a way to "offset emissions" without addressing the urgent need to cut emissions and protect existing ecosystems.
The core message the speaker wanted to correct was that restoration is not a silver bullet but rather one part of a larger portfolio of solutions needed to combat climate change. He emphasized that restoration efforts must be done correctly, considering local ecology and communities, rather than simply planting monocultures.
The speaker's initial communication, particularly after his research was published, led to a global conversation about the potential of trees. This resulted in initiatives like the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and the World Economic Forum's Trillion Trees Campaign, with governments and companies pledging to restore forests. However, in the excitement, the message was simplified, leading to the perception that restoration was a straightforward solution to climate change.
The speaker's research, utilizing data from over 1.2 million forests and machine learning models, provided new insights into forest structure and carbon storage globally. Key findings included:
