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Biogeochemistry -- A window into the Earth's ecological health
Date:10/27/2007

ave increased the uptake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, where it might otherwise contribute to global climate change. This is because plants remove carbon from the atmosphere during photosynthesis.

Young forests also take up atmospheric carbon as they grow. Schlesinger, who has been involved in a large-scale project investigating carbon-uptake by forests, is not convinced that reforestation will play a significant role in stabilizing rising levels of carbon dioxide. The CO2 sink that young forests provide is simply not enough to offset our current fossil fuel emissions. Not by a long shot, comments Schlesinger.

In the end, Schlesinger urges that if we want to abate environmental ills such as climate change, we need to minimize our impact on biogeochemical cycles. Increasingly, this means changing our current model of energy dependence.

Forests and cornfields will not save us from the climate-repercussions of our fossil fuel addiction, Schlesinger notes. Adding that, the real solution lies in taking immediate actions to curb our fossil fuel emissions.


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Contact: Lori M. Quillen
quillenl@ecostudies.org
845-677-7600 x233
Institute of Ecosystem Studies
Source:Eurekalert

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