Earth's forests are breathtaking. In fact, trees are effectively
the greatest carbon dioxide warehouses to have ever evolved on
Earth. For every metric ton of wood created, 1.5 metric tons of
carbon dioxide are absorbed and 1 metric ton of oxygen released.
Frighteningly, Earth's forests are dying from a warming world.
Will the delegates from 194 countries attending the Doha climate
talks acknowledge this and what nature is unequivocally showing
atmospheric, biologic and oceanic scientists? Last week,
researchers once again sent an SOS distress call to denizens of
Earth -- drought conditions are placing deadly water-stress on
forests around the globe. Moreover, Earth's forests and the
myriad "ecosystem services" they provide are approaching an
irreversible tipping point. In 2009, the International Union of
Forest Research Organizations came to a very bleak conclusion:
"The carbon storing capacity of Earth's forests could be lost
entirely if the planet heats up 4.5 F above pre-industrial
levels." So far, we hav