How Will Protecting Old Trees Help Mitigate the Effects of Climate Change?

By giving stability, strength, and protection to habitats in danger, ancient trees-those that are many hundreds or even thousands of years old-play a crucial role in the preservation of biodiversity and ecosystems. A group of ecologists stressed the value of protecting these enormous species in a review paper that will appear in Trends in Ecology & Evolution.

Sequoias And Coastal Redwoods Appear To Flourish Despite Climate Change — MILL VALLEY, CA - AUGUST 20: Park visitors walk along a path of Coastal Redwood trees at Muir Woods National Monument on August 20, 2013 in Mill Valley, California. A four-year study by the Save the Redwoods League called "the Redwoods and Climate Change Initiative" found that due to changing environmental conditions, California's Coast Redwoods and Giant Sequoias are experiencing an unprecedented growth surge and have produced more wood over the past century than any other time in their lives. Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

They also outline a project effort to ensure their conservation and longevity.

Old Trees

What exactly is an old tree? In general, Dr. Franklin says, "we're talking about trees that are over 150 years of age, and often, we're talking about trees that are several centuries old," and it's this longevity, more than their size, that makes these trees so crucial to the woods they call home.

Dr. Franklin asserts that huge, mature trees are not just bigger copies of immature trees. According to the author, the study's main objective is to inform the public and forest management about the detrimental effects of elderly trees on ecosystem health-one of these significant effects on all facets of life.

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Importance of Old Trees

The authors, Gianluca Piovesan and Charles H. Cannon, state that "ancient trees offer unique environments for the protection of vulnerable species because they can withstand and buffer climatic change." For example, Bristlecone pines in the White Mountains of the United States may live up to 5,000 years and store a lot of carbon.

Mycorrhizal connection, a symbiotic link between subterranean fungi and plants that provides them with many nutrients they need to thrive, is particularly prevalent in old trees. In arid settings, this relationship with fungus also lessens drought. However, despite playing a disproportionately important part in conservation planning, ancient trees are disappearing at an alarming rate worldwide.

The researchers suggest a two-pronged strategy for preserving ancient trees: first, the preservation of these plants through the propagation and preservation of the meristematic tissue and germplasm from these old trees; second, a planned combination of total protection and forest rewilding.

The authors conclude that the efficiency and durability of protected areas and their biological integrity may be directly evaluated by mapping and monitoring old-growth forests and ancient trees. "To carry out this enormous undertaking, public contributions through community science initiatives are needed to be coupled with a worldwide monitoring infrastructure based on modern technology."

Saving the Woods

National policy levels currently restrict saving old trees in forests, woodlands, historic gardens, and urban and agricultural regions. According to the authors, "old-growth and ancient tree mapping and monitoring should be included as a key indicator of the effectiveness of protected areas in maintaining and restoring forest integrity for a sustainable future" in the current review of the Convention on Biological Diversity and Sustainable Development Goal 15 of Agenda 2030, "Life on Land."

"Before they go, a worldwide coalition using cutting-edge technology and community scientists to locate, conserve, and propagate old trees is essential," the authors write. "We advocate for international efforts to preserve these centers of variety and resilience."