Environmental Studies and Forestry

Accounting for albedo change to identify climate-positive tree cover restoration

N. Hasler, C. A. Williams, et al.

Discover how restoring tree cover can influence climate change mitigation efforts in surprising ways! This research, conducted by Natalia Hasler and colleagues, reveals that carbon-only estimates may overstate climate benefits by up to 81% due to shifts in albedo. While strategic restoration shows promise across all biomes, understanding these albedo changes is crucial for effective action.

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Abstract

Restoring tree cover alters albedo, impacting climate change mitigation efforts. This study creates maps showing carbon-only estimates can overestimate climate benefits by up to 81% due to albedo offsets. While dryland and boreal regions show particularly significant offsets, net-positive climate mitigation is possible in all biomes. Current restoration projects are concentrated in more climate-positive locations, but many still face at least a 20% albedo offset. Strategic tree cover restoration requires considering albedo change, and this research provides the tools to do so.

Publisher

Nature Communications

Published On

Mar 26, 2024

Authors

Natalia Hasler, Christopher A. Williams, Vanessa Carrasco Denney, Peter W. Ellis, Surendra Shrestha, Drew E. Terasaki Hart, Nicholas H. Wolff, Samantha Yeo, Thomas W. Crowther, Leland K. Werden, Susan C. Cook-Patton

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