A Syracuse-based forestry expert says a state proposal to plant 25 million trees to help with climate change can pay dividends. SUNY ESF Professor Colin Beier is a professor in ESF’s Department of Sustainable Resources Management. He said despite the potential benefits, it’s a complicated and long-term strategy.
Governor Kathy Hochul endorses the 25 million trees by 2033 plan, launched last year. Beier suggests it will take several steps – and some time -- to have any impacts on the climate.
“Reforestation, afforestation, planting new trees, whether they're street trees in Manhattan or new trees in a site that's struggling to regenerate in the Catskills or the Adirondacks or a state park somewhere. That's more of a long game. It's going to take time for those trees to really get to a good size and to really start sequestering carbon,” said Beier.
(Hear more about the 25 million trees plan, where they can be planted, and how trees aid in climate change protections on our Deeper Shade of Green podcast)
Another challenge is getting the right trees. Beier explained you can’t just use seedlings from Canada or the North Country.
“Those trees are adapted to a similar, if not somewhat cooler climate than ours are, and we are looking at a climate of the future that's going to be warm. So finding the seed stock, finding the nursery stock (is essential),” Beier added.
New York has a state nursery, but Beier said it has suffered from a lack of investment. Still, it could be growing the seedlings of varieties of trees that could be more resilient as the climate warms.
Another part of the strategy is making sure that development doesn’t de-forest land to make way for a shopping center or housing complex. Beier explained trees sequester carbon, taking the harmful emission out of the atmosphere. And re-forestation could have other benefits.
“Certainly, in the urban setting, filtration of particulate matter that comes out of tailpipes and smokestacks is really important. The leaves collect that material and shed. There’s also temperature regulation," Beier said.
Professor Beier spoke to us about the benefits and challenges of trying to plant 25 million trees on our Deeper Shade of Green podcast.
