Reducing global temperatures does not require only cutting-edge technology, or at least so suggests a recent study from Cornell University which suggests that burying wood residues from managed forests could sequester an enormous amount of atmospheric carbon.
The study, published in Nature Geoscienceestimates that this practice could eliminate between 770 and 937 gigatons of CO₂ over the next 76 years. The model developed focuses on wood residues from already managed forests, sawmills and waste such as furniture or urban material.
The potential of managed forests for carbon sequestration
According to Yiqi Luo, lead author and professor of soil science at Cornell, burying wood two meters deep limits its decomposition by reducing the available oxygen, preserving the carbon carbon for centuries.
Decaying or burned wood releases CO₂ while burying it reduces these emissions. Applying this practice on a national scale, as in the United States, where 66% of residues from managed forests could be used would allow carbon neutrality to be achieved by 2050. In addition, the process can be done on-site, reducing logistical costs.
Operating costs would represent between 2% and 5% of the carbon avoided, making it viable even for local initiatives such as universities or urban gardens.
Additional impact: forest fire prevention
The method also addresses forest fuel management. Reducing the accumulation of debris in high-risk areas can reduce the intensity of forest fires. The sale of carbon credits derived from this activity could finance forest clearance in vulnerable regions.
The proposal to bury wood does not stem from speculation but from a sound theoretical framework on the carbon cycle supported by years of research. Luo and his team are currently working on pilot projects with Cornell AgriTech and orchards in New York to assess additional impacts on soil, biodiversity and collateral emissions.
The project is supported by key institutions such as the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy and state agricultural agencies in the United States, which reinforces its scientific credibility and operational feasibility.
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Source: Cornell University
Photo: shutterstock
