Bhat Yasir
Kashmir has slowly started shifting focus towards environmental issues, a much needed change from the usual social media debates about ethnic divides. The environmental crisis affecting everything from our drying springs to erratic weather patterns.
The Urban discourse on environmental challenges , for example in the case of Achabal spring’s drying up, often blames “global warming” for all the environmental shifts, presenting it as an unavoidable global phenomenon. This narrative, however, oversimplifies the situation. It is spoon-fed by the very powers, capitalists and urban elites, whose interests thrive on urban expansion, not agricultural preservation.
These narratives serve to keep us passive, as they conveniently downplay local agency, especially when it comes to addressing urgent challenges like water scarcity, carbon emission e.t.c. The idea that “global warming” is the root cause, and that there’s little we can do locally, aligns with capitalist agendas that benefit from the destruction of nature for urban development.
But if we step back and examine this, we must ask: can anything be done to mitigate these challenges in Kashmir? The answer is yes. While global climate change may be one factor, local action can make a meaningful difference. The real question is whether we are willing to challenge these narratives and take action for our environment.
Understanding Global Warming
Global warming refers to the long-term increase in Earth’s average temperature due to the build-up of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere.
The key driver behind global warming is human activity—burning fossil fuels for energy, deforestation, and industrial activities that release CO2.
This accumulation of greenhouse gases traps heat from the sun in the atmosphere, causing the planet to warm.
This shift in temperature has wide-ranging effects on our climate, including rising sea levels, more extreme weather events, and shifts in precipitation patterns. This is impacting everything from agriculture to the availability of freshwater.
Afforestation and Reforestation
According to various researchers planting trees can help in combating global warming. A research paper written by Ahmed I, Osman1, Samer Fawzy, Eric Lichtfouse and David W. Rooney published in 2023 focuses particularly on tree planting.
“While planting trees alone isn’t enough to solve the climate crisis, it remains one of the most effective methods for reducing the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere,” the paper argues.
Afforestation, which involves planting trees in areas where there were no forests, and reforestation, restoring forests, lost to deforestation, play vital roles in carbon sequestration.
Trees absorb carbon dioxide during their growth process. They store it in their biomass, soil, and organic matter.
This natural process helps to reduce the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This, in turn mitigates the warming effects of climate change.
However, the research cautions that the effectiveness of these strategies depends on how well forests are managed.
According to Fawzy et al. (2020), “The full benefits of afforestation and reforestation can only be realized if forest management practices are carefully planned.”
Effective management ensures that forests thrive, providing long-term benefits, such as biodiversity preservation, improved soil quality, and better water management.
Vulnerabilities to Carbon Storage
Afforestation and reforestation efforts are often seen as crucial tools in combating global warming, and for good reason.
Trees play a significant role in mitigating climate change by acting as carbon sinks. Carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas contributing to global warming, is absorbed by trees during photosynthesis and stored in their biomass, roots, and the soil.
This process helps reduce the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere, which is directly linked to global warming.
In addition to absorbing CO2, forests have the ability to influence the local climate through the process of evapotranspiration, which releases water vapor into the air, cooling the surrounding environment. This is particularly beneficial in areas that are experiencing temperature extremes.
Tree canopies also act as natural barriers to wind, helping to stabilize the microclimate and reduce the risk of soil erosion. As Osman et al. (2020) note, “The creation and preservation of forests provide both direct and indirect benefits in climate regulation, through cooling effects and carbon sequestration.
Research shows that large-scale afforestation can play a pivotal role in offsetting emissions, especially when combined with land-use policies that protect existing forests. The global carbon stock stored in forests is estimated at about 289 gigatonnes, highlighting their importance in stabilizing the climate.
However, as Fawzy et al. (2020) point out, the mere act of planting trees is not a panacea. For tree planting to be truly effective, it must be part of a broader strategy that includes protecting existing forests, ensuring long-term sustainability, and addressing underlying drivers of deforestation, such as urbanization and agricultural expansion
One challenge related to afforestation efforts, particularly in high-latitude regions, is the albedo effect—where the growth of forests can result in increased local warming by decreasing the reflectivity of the Earth’s surface.
This is particularly concerning in areas where forests can lead to the loss of ice and snow cover. In contrast, tropical areas are better suited for forestation efforts, where the environmental benefits are more pronounced.
In tropical regions, estimates suggest that afforestation could remove up to 3.6 gigatonnes of CO2 per year by 2050.
However, this comes at a cost, with the expense of carbon removal ranging from $5 to $50 per ton of CO2. While these numbers highlight the potential of afforestation to reduce CO2 emissions, they also emphasize the need for careful planning and funding to ensure these projects are both cost-effective and impactful.
To complement tree planting, the paper suggests the integration of additional technologies like biochar and BECCS (bioenergy carbon capture and storage).
Biochar is a stable form of carbon produced by heating organic matter in the absence of oxygen, a process known as pyrolysis.
According to Osman et al. (2020), “Biochar is a stable, carbon-negative material produced through the thermal conversion of biomass. It will ensure a long-term capturing of carbon.”
This technology could help address the challenges faced by traditional forest-based carbon sequestration efforts.
Similarly, BECCS, which combines bioenergy with carbon capture and storage, offers another potential solution.
Through BECCS, CO2 is captured from biomass-based power plants and stored in geological formations, effectively removing CO2 from the atmosphere.
Research suggests that BECCS could remove 0.5–5 gigatonnes of CO2 annually by 2050 (Fuss et al., 2018).
Sustainable Land Management and Carbon Cropping
Integrating tree planting with biochar or BECCS could also improve land-use efficiency. Short-rotation plantations and fast-growing crops offer a means to sequester carbon in the short term, providing a stable supply of biomass for these technologies.
These carbon crops, which can be harvested more frequently than traditional forests, are increasingly seen as a potential strategy for increasing carbon sequestration while balancing land-use demands.
However, these practices must be carefully managed to avoid negative environmental impacts, such as competition with food production.
As Fawzy et al. (2020) suggest, “sustainable practices and the use of marginal lands are crucial in overcoming these challenges.” The goal is to implement these strategies without disrupting food security, which remains a pressing concern in many parts of the world.
Moreover, planting trees doesn’t just benefit the atmosphere; it also helps to reduce local impacts of climate change. Reforestation in areas where forest cover has been lost can bring back biodiversity, reduce flooding, and help replenish the water table.
As trees help to stabilize the soil, they also reduce the frequency and intensity of landslides, which have become more prevalent due to deforestation and changes in precipitation patterns.
While planting trees is an essential tool in mitigating global warming, it is not a silver bullet.
As the research shows, the success of these efforts depends on careful planning, effective forest management, and integration with innovative technologies like biochar and BECCS.
Addressing the challenges of global warming requires a comprehensive, long-term approach that includes both local and global solutions.
While the issue is complex, combining tree planting with sustainable land management offers a promising path forward in our fight against climate change.