Forests and biodiversity can help forestall the effects of climate change

Warming varies, doesn't contradict climate change science

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My childhood Vermont home had a backyard that opened onto a trail through the woods. It could have been an old logging trail or sugaring trail. After school, I was taken to another world where there was only trees and wildlife.

In the spring, the brook gurgled beside the pathway; in summer, the maples, birch and poplars offered shade from that “hot” Vermont summer sun; fall found me shuffling through fallen leaves; winters I snowshoed or skied along the open pathway.

I have always been drawn to the woods. My house in Gainesville backs onto a small, wooded area with cedars, pines, maples, and cypress. My windows face this direction, which draws my imagination back to the woods. They give me hope for the planet.

Climate change can be prevented by planting trees and saving and restoring old forests. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a United Nations committee that focuses on the science of climate change, recently released its third section of its report, “Mitigation of Climate Change.” The panel believes that we can maintain our temperatures below 2 degrees Celsius.

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After I had considered these findings, my thoughts turned to the Amazon and the destruction of the Amazon forests. Our lands must be protected from deforestation to help mitigate the climate crisis.

According to multiple sources, forests can store between 16%- 30% of the carbon in the atmosphere. While reforestation alone is not the solution, it — combined with many other actions — can reduce the threat of rising temperatures.

Alachua County residents were ahead when they voted in favor a half-cent salestax to help conserve environmentally sensitive lands as well as to maintain and create new parks. Gainesville and Alachua County save these spaces to prevent further development. In 2020, 90% of the county’s portion of these funds went to conserving land.

Deforestation was a major issue at the United Nations Conference on Climate Change 26 (COP26). The need to preserve, conserve, and restore nature and ecosystems, including forests and other terrestrial or marine ecosystems, was officially acknowledged by all countries. Many countries have pledged to stop deforestation, and instead focus on reforestation.

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The world saw a great deal of loss in tree cover in 2020. Brazil suffered the largest loss, with more than 1.6 million hectares being cut. Global tree cover loss maps show that Florida is not alone. Alachua County is also showing evidence of this. Global Forest Watch 2020 states that the main reason for these losses is urbanization. Anyone driving west from Haile will quickly notice how rapidly our county is growing, destroying trees along the way.

Over 130 countries pledged at COP26 to end deforestation These countries account for almost 90% of the world’s forests. Brazil, the Amazon rainforest’s home, signed this pledge but declined to stop reforestation beyond 2028.

Promoting biodiversity in our own gardens is another way to reduce climate change. The United States currently has 41 million acres of grass. We are creating a crop that is not beneficial to anyone or anything by watering, fertilizing and spraying pesticides, mowing, and raising grass. Lawns are the antithesis for biodiversity.

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As a Master Gardener, I have long spoken and written about the benefits to our yards, to our waterways and to our pollinators of maintaining a Florida-Friendly Landscaping. Florida-Friendly Landscaping is still in place. However, homeowners can now work with homeowner associations (HOAs), to create such a landscape for their yards.

HOA processes must be followed by homeowners to modify their front or rear yard. A homeowner can present an alternative if the HOA requires it.

Many HOAs require front yards to have grass. Forested yards replace turf. However, shade and grass do not mix well. The homeowner can suggest an alternative ground covering to cover the problem area and help pollinators.

Other states are also encouraging environmentally friendly gardening methods to be used on their lawns. Many ground cover require little to no mowing, which further reduces carbon emissions. A mix of diverse plants, less pesticides and water consumption will help to clean our waterways.

Promoting biodiversity is crucial for our pollinators, who are the source of so many of your foods. We can all laud Alachua County for conserving lands. We can urge the city and county to do even more. We can also ensure that our properties support biodiversity.

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The IPCC report repeatedly states that the time is now. We can’t wait.

Susan Nugent is a Climate Reality Project leader in Gainesville.

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