The boreal forest is a forest area that could have the solution to curb climate change, according to experts. And it is that these forests, which together with those of the temperate zones, cover 48% of the world's forest area, increased in size between 2000 and 2015 due to large-scale reforestation, according to data from the FAO Forestry.
These trees act as major carbon dioxide sinks, absorbing more than they release. In fact, in a decade Europe's forests have absorbed 13.000 billion tons carbon. A not inconsiderable figure, without a doubt.
According to Lars Marklund, a specialist at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, forest areas could be increased through sustainable management plans. Furthermore, 90% of boreal forests are subject to some kind of conservation plan.
The wood from these trees can be used to generate energy to replace fossil fuels, and could also be used to create wood products that would continue to store carbon, such as materials used to build buildings.
Roman Michalak, from the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, called for protecting biological diversity and promoting employment in the sector. For Andrey Gribennikov, Director of Forest Policy of Russia, boreal forests must be protected internationally.
Russia is a country that is home to 20% of all the world's forests (mostly boreal). It has committed to reducing its CO75 emissions by 2% by 2030, and so far, it has managed to increase its forest cover in the last 50 years, but it continues to have problems, such as fires or the conversion of these lands into agricultural crops.
The Expert of the Swiss Environment Office, Christian Küchli, said that it was necessary to strengthen the position of forests in the negotiations. Regardless of where you come from, forests are a must. Without them, the climate would be very different.