"Each spring when deciduous trees put on leaves in the northern hemisphere, four to five parts per million of carbon dioxide is taken out of the atmosphere," Johan Varekamp of Wesleyan University said. "It gives you an idea what a powerful driver of CO2 the terrestrial biosphere is." Today, a number of factors are conspiring to keep the green boom going. The population is shrinking, thanks to fertility rates that rank among the lowest in the world. And several countries have recently entered the European Union, paving way for citizens to migrate to the more urbanized, affluent western countries. Forests are ingrained in region's culture, too. "The forest is used for lots of things," Taff said. "People go into the forest to harvest berries, mushrooms, and for sap harvesting. The traditions have origins in the 17th century, and lasted for over 200 years." As a result, forest management practices rival or often surpass those in the United States, Taff said. Related Links: Discovery Earth: Video, Expert Interviews, Photos and More |
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