On March 21, we celebrate the International Day of Forests, which was established to draw the attention of all countries to forest resources, the green protector of mankind, and to realize the sustainable use of forest resources by harmonizing the relationship between mankind and them. At the same time, tree planting has been regarded as a measure to address climate change that emphasizes both “mitigation” and “adaptation”, promoting the sustainable development of human society and protecting the safety of the ecosystem. Let's find out how it works.

Producer: JIANG Zhiqing, CAO Ruiyi

Promoting the carbon cycle

Forests have an enormous carbon storage capacity. The protection and restoration of forests can increase the absorption of carbon dioxide, i.e., carbon sequestration, which plays an important role in slowing down global warming. It has been estimated that for every 100 million cubic meters of forest stock, an additional 160 million tons of carbon dioxide can be sequestered. In recent years, a large amount of green vegetations have been planted in China, which has effectively controlled carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. The results of China's National Greenhouse Gas Inventory show that over the past 20 years, the carbon sink contribution of new forest areas has accounted for about 40%-50% of the total carbon sink of China's forests, and making an important contribution to improving air quality and slowing down global warming.

Source: Chongqing Municipal Meteorological Service

Improving the urban climate

As urbanization continues, the city heat island effect has been increasingly pronounced. This is because the increase of hard building materials in cities lead to heat accumulation and reduce the function of surface evaporation and plant transpiration which cool the air. However, the foliar transpiration and shade effects of passive trees as well as moist soil help to absorb heat and slow down the formation of the city heat island effect. In addition, trees can absorb and filter harmful particles and pollutants in the air, thus improving urban air quality.

Reducing the occurence of sand and dust

“In recent years, through the meteorological monitoring system, projects such as the construction of the Three-North Shelterbelt Program and the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Sand Sources Project have greatly reduced the starting of sand and dust sources in China.” GUI Hailin, chief forecaster of National Meteorological Centre (NMC), said. National Forestry and Grassland Administration (National Park Administration) of China informed that planting trees and grasses and building protective forests in sand and dust source and path areas can increase surface vegetation, prevent and control land sanding, reduce the area of sand sources, decrease the frequency and intensity of sand and dust storms, and mitigate disaster losses.

Lush vegetation in Hongcun Town, Yixian County, Huangshan City, Anhui. Photographed by LI Qiong

Ecological prosperity is important for protecting the environment and adapting to climate change. Let us make good use of forest resources, and work together to promote ecological civilization and share a green future!

Editor: JIANG Zhiqing