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THE ROLE OF TREES AND PLANTATION AGRICULTURE IN MITIGATING GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
Aba, SC; Ndukwe, OO; Amu, CJ & Baiyeri, KP
Abstract
Climate change refers to a paradigm shift in the climatic pattern of a location, region or
planet which is linked with average weather components, such as temperature, wind
patterns and precipitations. Climate change results in erratic events such as rising
global temperature, intensified drought, flooding, cyclones, low or poor agricultural
productivity, loss of biodiversity and shifting of seasons. Natural processes such as
variations in the intensity of the sun, eruptions from volcanoes, very slow changes in
ocean circulations and land surfaces can cause this global climate change but human
activities are by far the major causes through the continuous release of greenhouse
gases and aerosols into the atmosphere, by altering land surfaces, and or depleting the
ozone layer. The most environmentally conservative response to climate change
mitigation would be to stop the consumption of fossil fuels and production of methane
and chlorofluorocarbons; but these options may not be feasible until alternative
technologies emanate. Considering the large amounts of carbon accumulated as
biomass in plantations, extensive planting of trees, which posses large canopies that are
able to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere, could help mitigate the
rising atmospheric CO2 levels. The roles of plantations in mitigating global climate
change are related, but not limited to the following: the influence of trees on the
hydrologic cycle, the barrier against destructive windstorm and desertification,
conservation of the soil surface against erosion and intense heat, binding action of the
dense root system, sustainable biodiversity, provision of renewable and bioenergy,
nutritious food, employment, and rural income, and the reservoir of sequestered carbon.
There is an urgent need to properly integrate trees and plantations in our agricultural
systems, homes, institutions, markets, parks and other public places. This would not
only help to reduce the build-up of carbondioxide and other atmospheric impurities but
also increase the produce from plantation crops in a locality thereby mitigating against
food insecurity and poverty.
Keywords
Climate-change; trees; mitigation; adaptation; carbon sequestration; food security; sustainable agriculture
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