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Tree-planting is no solution without animals
Tackling biodiversity and the climate crisis separately hinders progress for both endeavours
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Tree-planting has become a synonym for climate action, but the reality is that trees exist within complex communities, helped along by each other as well as the animals they coexist with.
ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Lara Williams
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Trees have become a mascot for nature’s role in the climate fight. But what if I told you that the part could have as easily been filled by wolves, or wildebeests, or whales?
A new paper, co-authored by 15 scientists from eight countries, illustrates how rewilding can help keep the global average temperature increase below 1.5 deg C. It also makes the case for a more holistic approach to the biodiversity and climate crises, which are currently treated separately by intergovernmental bodies.
