Bioenergy Meet 2020

Forestry as Carbon Sink

Plants are categorized as Autotrophs, meaning they have the ability to produce their own energy source by utilizing the natural elements like sunlight, water and so on, through the longest chemical reaction found in nature, photosynthesis. Plants produce glucose, which is a carbon-based biomolecule. Carbon in glucose is gained from carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which is considered one of the major greenhouse gases, contributing to Global climate change. Plants are also carbon sources and they release stored carbon back into the environment in events such as a forest fire. However, the release of carbon is minute compared to carbon absorption. Therefore, Forests act as “carbon sinks” which will reduce carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere. Reforestation is one such controllable solution for reducing carbon footprint and preventing increasing global temperatures.