This N&O letter to the editor
from Bob Slocum the Executive Vice President of the NC Forestry
Association sets the record straight regarding trees and carbon
dioxide. Duke researchers claimed that trees are of limited value in
absorbing CO2 in the fight against global warming. Slocum reminds Duke
scientists of basic 6th grade science.
The researchers confirm that trees effectively
process carbon dioxide as part of photosynthesis and that when exposed
to higher levels of carbon dioxide, the trees respond by growing
faster. Carbon dioxide is a fertilizer. And, yes, for any fertilizer to
work, the plant ? or tree ? has to have adequate water. So it?s not
surprising that those trees with the higher level carbon dioxide, water
and other nutrients had the highest growth rates, and in turn, stored
the most carbon. This confirms that younger, faster growing trees are
more efficient in terms of producing oxygen and storing carbon.
Cross posted on www.environmentnc.com
