The article explores how protected areas, despite facing increasing threats, serve as crucial buffers against climate change by storing carbon emissions. Utilizing laser technology from space, scientists can now accurately measure the biomass of forests worldwide, enabling them to calculate the amount of carbon stored by trees.

Protected areas have played a significant role in preventing deforestation and preserving carbon equivalent to a year’s worth of fossil fuel emissions. However, many reserves, like the Tapajós Environmental Protection Area in Brazil, are still under threat from illegal activities such as gold mining and timber extraction.

The Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) mission by NASA, launched in 2018, provides essential data for researchers to compare protected and unprotected areas globally. The study reveals that protected areas are most effective where they prevent surrounding destruction, despite some imperfections in enforcement.

Efforts to actively protect reserves and enforce laws are crucial for their integrity. Indigenous communities often play a vital role in safeguarding forests. The article emphasizes the importance of continued research and funding to demonstrate the value of protecting native ecosystems in mitigating climate change.

The article underscores the potential of countries with large forests to reduce emissions through conservation efforts but stresses the necessity of implementing and safeguarding protected areas to achieve this goal.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/08/climate/forests-trees-climate-change.html