The Waggle
Issue 78 The Power of Trees
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Aerial view of mangrove forest in The Gambia.
Curioso.Photography / Shutterstock
Giving Mangroves their Groove Back • Hugo Paquin
UNESCO has officially designated July 26th as International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem. Not only are mangroves a critical habitat for a myriad of marine and terrestrial wildlife, but they are also a natural defense against adverse climate effects. They directly support food security in countless communities and constitute some of our planet’s most effective carbon storage systems. A recent global study concluded that more than half of all mangrove ecosystems are at risk of collapse by 2050. Fortunately, people are increasingly recognizing the value of these unique wetlands and deploying efforts to preserve or restore them. In Shenzhen, China, city authorities rolled out a restoration plan to remove invasive tree species and set ecological redlines for land development around mangroves. Between 2000 and 2022, mangrove cover across Shenzhen Bay expanded from 281.51 to 526.43 hectares, and the world’s first international mangrove center was established there last year. In the Gulf, Saudi Arabia set an ambitious goal of planting ten billion mangrove trees by 2030, while the Oman Blue Carbon Project targets planting a hundred million mangroves across the Sultanate. The effort could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 14 million tonnes and generate around $150 million in carbon credits. Learn more in our Mangroves Nexus.
Solve Two Energy Problems w/ One Stone • Amy Boyer
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A pile of kiln refractory bricks (firebricks).
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According to a just-released paper, using the humble fire brick to store heat could decarbonize processes like steel and glass production, easing the energy transition by reducing the need for electricity generation and providing an alternative way to capture solar and wind energy. For thousands of years, bricks have been used to absorb and release heat, warming beds in China, baths in ancient Rome, and houses in Europe. Today they are used in heat exchangers that make furnaces more efficient. Firebrick storage can also be used like a battery: electricity is converted to heat energy, stored in the bricks, and then converted back to electricity. Either use solves the problem of excess solar energy having a zero or even negative sale price. Using the bricks for heat is even more efficient, plus it reduces air pollution by displacing fossil fuels. To learn more, see our Energy Storage Nexus.
Agroforestry's Viability • Anna Steltenkamp
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A rubber tree is being tapped in on a plantation in Phuket, Thailand.
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Agricultural expansion drives almost ninety percent of global deforestation. Yet, agroforestry invites an alternative scenario by posing the question: how does one bring the forest to the farm (and vice versa)? Communities around the world have practiced these cultivation systems for centuries. Thai rubber farmers are a recent example of how re-adopting agroforestry practices to transform monoculture plantations creates more resilient and diverse working landscapes. Rubber, one of the world’s leading drivers of tropical deforestation, is a significant source of income for more than one million smallholder farmers in Thailand. By integrating agroforestry and diversifying crop production, their livelihoods become more secure from climate and market disturbances. More communities are implementing agroforestry from Alaska to India, Costa Rica to Ethiopia, and discovering the cascade of social, ecological, and cultural benefits that may result. To learn more, see our Agroforestry Nexus.
Kenyan Lake District Regenerators • Juliana Birnbaum
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Evans Odula and his organization have planted 300,000 trees to save the ecology of his native island,
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The story of Evans Odula’s permaculture-inspired approach to social and environmental regeneration on Rusinga Island first inspired me over a decade ago when I featured his Badilsha project in my book Sustainable [R]evolution. It was heartwarming to touch base with him recently and learn his work to restore native trees through partnering with village farmers and educators continues to thrive. Badilisha established two nurseries that raise over 50,000 seedlings annually, distributing them to school and farming groups for planting in deforested areas. Erosion is reduced, habitats and livelihoods are improved, and animals benefit from the increased shade. The organization shows that tree-planting initiatives can be successful when deeply integrated into local networks while also welcoming the support of international volunteers and donors. Moreover, the area has become a hub for numerous projects that build the connection between residents and their bioregion. Despite its colonial moniker of Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest lake has many indigenous names. A teenage sibling duo took advantage of pandemic school closures to rekindle community stewardship, founding the Osiepe Sango (Friends of the Lake) initiative to tackle plastic pollution. In a recent Mongabay interview, Michelle and Jeremy Muchilwa describe the evolution of the multifaceted youth movement they founded. Learn more about these action pathways at our Silvopasture Nexus and Plastics Nexus.
Student-led Innovation • Claire Inciong Krummenacher
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The atrium of the Student Union Building State University of New York at New Paltz.
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Across the United States, universities have seen a dramatic increase in student-led initiatives to reduce the carbon footprint of their campuses. In addition, professors are successfully incorporating real-life climate innovation projects into their curriculum. At Dickinson College, statisticians have analyzed which buildings are more energy efficient, psychology majors have incorporated dining hall designs to cut down on food waste, and physics students have engineered solar thermal boxes to boost renewable biogas production on campus farms. At SUNY New Paltz, an Ethical Fashion class focusing on the harm caused by the global fashion industry led to the installation of microplastic filters on campus washing machines. By providing opportunities for students to witness the impact of their ideas and innovations on the ground, colleges can empower them to continue innovating regenerative solutions beyond their time at university.
Methane-munching Trees • George Biesmans
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The Sycamore tree (Acer pseudoplatanus) in England, UK, is one of the trees studied for CH4 uptake.
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Many people know that protecting and restoring forest ecosystems is critical for reversing the collapse of nature and mitigating global heating. However, a new study suggests that trees could play an even more important role than previously thought. Microbes on the upper bark of trees– particularly in tropical forests– have the potential to draw down methane at a similar rate that soil sequesters carbon. Although it has a shorter atmospheric lifespan than carbon dioxide, methane is about eighty times more potent as a greenhouse gas than CO2 (in the first twenty years after it’s released), trapping more heat per molecule. As such, it’s thought to be responsible for around one-third of the global heating we’ve experienced so far. Considering that methane emissions are rising more quickly than at any time since the 1980s - despite the signing of the Global Methane Pledge in 2021 - this new research only reinforces the urgent need to safeguard existing forests, allow degraded forests to recover naturally and, where ecologically appropriate, engage in afforestation. Centering and respecting Indigenous and local communities’ rights, stewardship, and ecological knowledge in this process is critical. And, as ever, investing in drawdown efforts like these should always complement rather than substitute for urgent emissions reduction. For more information, see our Proforestation Nexus and our Tropical Forests Nexus.
Columbian Regenerative Farming Project • Scott Hannan
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| Boomitra, which means “friend of the earth” in Sanskrit, is using regenerative agriculture to remove CO2 – while providing the farmers with extra income. |
Two major corporations in Colombia have announced a collaboration to transform 130,000 acres of ranch land into a haven for regenerative practices. Boomitra, a climate tech company, and Alqueria, Colombia's largest B corp, have committed to a 40-year initiative that will be evaluated once a decade to ensure positive and sustained impacts. Along with studying how the project improves local ecologies and affects the lives of the farmers, Boomitra will measure the amount of carbon sequestered in the soil. Over a thousand participating dairy farmers will receive the majority of the revenue generated from the sale of carbon credits, which they can reinvest into their farms and communities. Regenerative dairy farming is known to positively impact farmers, animals, and ecosystems, aligning with Colombia's commitment to biodiversity, and the initiative aims to become a model for other institutions to employ. For more information, see Agroecology Nexus and Animal Integration Nexus.
Take Action on Nexus
Find out how to restore the essential role of fire in nature by adopting practices and attitudes that honor its historic part in regenerating land and cultures in our Fire Ecology Nexus.
Photo Credits
1. Curioso.Photography / Shutterstock
2. Surakit / Shutterstock
3. imageBROKER.com GmbH & Co. KG / Alamy Stock Photo
4. Popova Valeriya / Shutterstock
5. Geoff Smith / Alamy Stock Photo
6. Courtesy of Evans Odula
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