One aspect that would be interesting to investigate is if there is a multiplier on impact depending on where a tree a planted. For example, does reforestation of the Sahara have a greater or lesser impact than reforestation of the Amazon. To take it one step further, does the reforestation of one area give additional utility to humans in another form? That might change the value equation to make it financially viable in certain areas. Do enough trees in the Sahara allow nearby areas to be farmed again?
I remember years ago reading about a company that designed a tree incubator for deserts, I don't remember it's this one or not. I can't imagine the economics work as well some of the solutions you proposed, but it might be able to grow the total "forest-able" area globally. Would having more total available forests might allow humans to continue to keep the deforested land for agriculture while simultaneously reducing global carbon impact? Interesting space and great read.
Thank you for the thoughtful comments. Yes, I think the "multiplier" will vary based on where the tree is planted, including both the financial and decarbonization benefits. I purposely limited the article to the US just because of these different global considerations. That said, I leave you with the following:
1. It is probably "easier" to reforest parts of the Amazon than the Sahara because you could rely on some natural forest regrowth. Moreover, there might higher biodiversity benefits from strengthening an existing rainforest vs starting with a desert, at least in the short-term.
2. I believe the human utility is already critical even before a reforestation project might make the nearby areas farmable again. For instance, the non-profit Eden Project has designed their model to involve (and incentivize) the locals to plant and protect the trees, as these are key for any long-term reforestation success. Moreover, through long-term contracts and choosing which species to plant, the forest in a way can hopefully provide that utility over the long-term. It is also worth noting their cost per tree of 10 to 2 cents compared to some of the numbers in my article ;)
3. Thanks for sharing the video! I think it is actually quite similar to the Land Life Company's Cocoon solution (see photo in the article). They detail the evolution in the link below, with the original design inspired by work in ancient Mesopotamia! Pretty cool.
One aspect that would be interesting to investigate is if there is a multiplier on impact depending on where a tree a planted. For example, does reforestation of the Sahara have a greater or lesser impact than reforestation of the Amazon. To take it one step further, does the reforestation of one area give additional utility to humans in another form? That might change the value equation to make it financially viable in certain areas. Do enough trees in the Sahara allow nearby areas to be farmed again?
I remember years ago reading about a company that designed a tree incubator for deserts, I don't remember it's this one or not. I can't imagine the economics work as well some of the solutions you proposed, but it might be able to grow the total "forest-able" area globally. Would having more total available forests might allow humans to continue to keep the deforested land for agriculture while simultaneously reducing global carbon impact? Interesting space and great read.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRF2bUBPA90
Thank you for the thoughtful comments. Yes, I think the "multiplier" will vary based on where the tree is planted, including both the financial and decarbonization benefits. I purposely limited the article to the US just because of these different global considerations. That said, I leave you with the following:
1. It is probably "easier" to reforest parts of the Amazon than the Sahara because you could rely on some natural forest regrowth. Moreover, there might higher biodiversity benefits from strengthening an existing rainforest vs starting with a desert, at least in the short-term.
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-55795816
2. I believe the human utility is already critical even before a reforestation project might make the nearby areas farmable again. For instance, the non-profit Eden Project has designed their model to involve (and incentivize) the locals to plant and protect the trees, as these are key for any long-term reforestation success. Moreover, through long-term contracts and choosing which species to plant, the forest in a way can hopefully provide that utility over the long-term. It is also worth noting their cost per tree of 10 to 2 cents compared to some of the numbers in my article ;)
https://edenprojects.org/faqs/
3. Thanks for sharing the video! I think it is actually quite similar to the Land Life Company's Cocoon solution (see photo in the article). They detail the evolution in the link below, with the original design inspired by work in ancient Mesopotamia! Pretty cool.
https://landlifecompany.com/news/better-faster-stronger-the-new-cocoon-lid/