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More than carbon sticks

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The concept that planting trees will help mitigate climate change by storing CO2 is too simplistic, ignoring the large effect that plants have on the water cycle. Careful restoration of native plant ecosystems can rebalance that cycle, further mitigating climate change while also reducing flood and drought extremes.

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Fig. 1: Slash remains after a logging clear cut on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.

ERICA GIES

Fig. 2: Native forest restoration.

ERICA GIES

Fig. 3: Guyana has one of the highest rates of intact primary forest in the world.

ERICA GIES

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  1. Science journalist and author, Victoria, British Colombia, Canada

    Erica Gies

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  1. Erica Gies
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Correspondence to Erica Gies.

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Gies, E. More than carbon sticks. Nat Water 1, 820–823 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44221-023-00143-z

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