Why can’t we plant more trees?

Planting more trees is a widely accepted solution to reversing the negative impact of climate change. However, despite global awareness and acknowledgement, there seems to be a lack of action towards implementing this solution on a large enough scale to make a significant difference. In this article, we explore some of the reasons why we can’t seem to plant more trees.

Land availability

The availability of land for planting trees is a significant obstacle. As nations grow and expand, forests are cleared to make room for urban expansion, agriculture, and other activities. In some cases, land erosion and desertification also limit the availability of suitable land for planting trees.

Moreover, there are often conflicts of interest when it comes to land ownership and usage. For example, the demand for palm oil drives the deforestation of large areas of land in Southeast Asia. The same is also true for mining, logging, and other extractive industries.

Costs

Planting trees can be costly, especially when done on a large scale. The costs of buying and transporting seedlings, preparing the land, and maintaining the trees can be significant, and not all countries or organizations have the financial resources to cover these costs.

Additionally, the benefits of planting trees, such as mitigating climate change or preventing soil erosion, are often long-term and difficult to monetize. This makes it harder to justify the investment in tree planting initiatives to those who hold the purse strings.

Governance and policy

Governance and policy play a crucial role in implementing tree planting initiatives. Governments must provide clear policies and regulations that encourage tree planting and protect existing forests from deforestation. Additionally, governments need to enforce these policies and hold corporations accountable for their impact on the environment.

Unfortunately, many governments are unwilling or unable to implement these policies, either due to corruption, lack of political will, or because other policies take priority. Furthermore, some governments incentivize activities that contribute to deforestation, such as subsidizing industries that rely on palm oil or timber.

Lack of public engagement

While awareness of the benefits of planting trees is high and most people understand that trees are essential for our planet, this knowledge doesn’t always translate into action. Individuals and communities can play a significant role in planting trees, but often lack the resources or knowledge to do so effectively.

Furthermore, there is a disconnect between the public and policymakers. Many people feel that the problem is too big for them to address on their own, and instead, expect policymakers to take the lead. The reverse is also true, where policymakers underestimate the role that citizen engagement can play in achieving environmental goals.

Conclusion

Planting more trees is a vital solution to mitigating climate change and addressing other environmental issues. However, as we have explored in this article, there are various reasons why we can't seem to plant more trees. These include land availability and ownership, costs, governance and policy, and lack of public engagement. Addressing these challenges requires collaboration between governments, the private sector, and civil society to find solutions that work for all parties involved.