Bringing Reforestation to the Ground as a Natural Climate Solution.

Abstract:

Reforestation has garnered immense support as a natural climate solution through initiatives such as the Bonn Challenge, AFR100, and the Trillion Trees movement. However, two key questions must be answered to effectively evaluate reforestation as a climate mitigation strategy: where will the new forest go and how much carbon will you get? We are developing detailed maps of where reforestation could occur, as well as robust estimates of carbon accumulation potential. While these estimates are based on best-available data, those data may be decades old. In a rapidly evolving landscape and climate, new carbon monitoring systems represent a promising way to provide up-to-date and spatially-refined carbon maps to accurately predict and monitor the success of reforestation as a climate solution.