Trees…the Need for Speed

One of my last articles focused on a success story from our past, the 1930’s Tree Army called the Civilian Conservation Corp. 

The goal of returning forest-able land to trees is huge. Even if we can organize tree armies world-wide, it will be tough to accomplish the greening of earth in time if we do not find a speedier way.  Trees take 10 to 20 years to start sequestering carbon in mass. This is a long time to wait. Can we plant trees in time? 

To scratch the surface of high tech and science, exploring ways to plant trees effectively, we need to think about all the disciplines of science needed to launch successful mass tree plantings. A new company providing an example of a high-tech solution is the Canadian firm “Flash Forest”. They propose and are demonstrating the feasibility of using drones to plant trees. Their drones are not scattering seed, they are planting seed pods in just the right places. 

The pods are an improvement on nature’s seeds. The pod surrounding the seeds are filled with the nutrients seedlings will need to help them survive the first nine months when they are most vulnerable. If you look at the normal way trees reproduce, they produce thousands of seeds with innovative ways of dispersal in hope at least one will survive. Flash Forest has perfected their drones, the pods, and the computer programs required to make accurate high-speed GPS guided seed dispersal a reality. 

Let us look at a few elements within the big picture. How do we know where to plant?  When potential areas are identified, Flash Forest has small fixed wing drones which do a reconnaissance. Additionally, soils need analysis so the correct diversity of seed can be determined with the best mix of nutrients. I suspect AI, or artificial intelligence, will quickly aid analysts determining planting feasibility. The climate must be analyzed to plant at the most opportune time. Different tree combinations must be weighed because diverse forests are healthier. In the planning phases indigenous peoples’ input should be included since it is proven their lands they are biologically healthy and diverse. And last, but not least, residents need to be involved as a forest needs local buy-in for long term success. 

What is the payoff for all this preflight organization? When the planting commences, one drone pilot and one drone can plant as many trees as 10 manual planters. And, since the whole planting is preprogrammed, one pilot can monitor 10 drones. That means one pilot can outplant 100 manual planters.

I find it all quite exciting. We can meet the need for speed. It will take an army of keen minds able to link men, machines, tech, science and communities together with a “get ‘er done” attitude.

This is not going to get done in a flash and not without an incredible amount of learning, teaching, preparation, communication, multi-year forest monitoring and follow-up analysis.  The key is to get it as “right” as possible from the start. The task is complex. Weather, pests, and animal grazing can threaten a new forest. Contingency planning and funding should be included in the planning phase so, if the new seedlings require intervention, funding is available.  

I am optimistic because we have professional foresters in the United State Forest Service, Local and State Forest Services, our Universities and our Community Colleges. We have imaginative young men and women entrepreneurs ready to act. Is it time we gave these men and women who are grounded in science a leading role in sequestering carbon via a forest and saving the climate?  

There are pitfalls to focusing on just tree planting. Some people may be encouraged by President Trump’s pledge to join the “Trillion Tree Initiative.” Science savvy citizens know any tree planting program, no matter how aggressive, will never reverse climate disruption by itself. The bottom line is the use of coal, then oil, then natural gas must go away. If we cannot do this, we will simply enter a dystopian future of climate insecurity with a lot more trees. Since Mr. Trump has called global warming a hoax, has pulled us out of the unified global effort to combat runaway climate change, and has tried to revive the dirtiest way we create energy, (coal)  I look at Mr. Trump’s pledge as simply a political smokescreen. It is an attempt to obscure our ability to see the biggest problem, fossil fuels.

Is it time to start the planning process to get our trees up and growing? Yes, the next administration may start the transition to climate stabilizing energy sources. In that case, with wise tree planting and other wise interventions, our kids will have a fighting chance.

You might take the time to think of all man’s accumulated science knowledge needed to be a smart tree planter. As you think of the different disciplines needed why not get your kids involved? You might start with satellites and GPS, then move to drones, soils, forest complexity, climate considerations, biodiversity, social interactions, and marketing.  As you can see knowledge and imagination, working in collaboration, are power.  The more excited our kids are to learn, the more power our kids will have over their future.

If your kids and grandkids like intriguing and important challenges, this is the time to be alive. They are the ones who will find fulfillment and success meeting human’s biggest challenges.

A reference article: 8 May 2020 Science magazine titled, “Tree planting is not a simple solution”. 

A book of climate solutions: “Drawdown” by Paul Hawken.