How old-growth forests protect our climate | DW Documentary

Giant trees that have stood for decades or even centuries are an elixir of life on our planet. They help purify the air, preserve biodiversity and are key to slowing down climate change. But the number of these age-old giants is dwindling fast.
Deforestation, drought, and pests pose a huge threat to old-growth trees and destroy their ecosystems. But unconventional ideas on how to raise awareness and increase our understanding of the role these trees play, as well as rethinking how we use our forests, can all help to protect them.
"Big trees are the most important bar of gold on the planet”, says US biologist Meg Lowman. She was the first scientist to begin studying forest canopies in the 1970s with the help of self-built hoists. Now aged 70, she’s pursuing the ambitious goal of safeguarding the future of ten of the world’s most biodiverse forests, by building walkways high up in the forest canopy for both ecotourists and scientists. The walkways are maintained by local residents, who also work as tour guides and provide catering and accommodation for the visitors. We accompany Meg Lowman and a group of ecotourists on an expedition to the Peruvian Amazon.
In Germany, most forests are not natural - and none are primeval as defined in the classic sense. But the "woodify” startup is looking to change that, by ensuring that large areas of woodland are left to grow wild. The company's goal is to withdraw 50% of Germany’s forests from commercial use.
The start-up works by leasing areas of forest and signing a contract that no trees will be felled there for 30 years. Any trees that fall to the ground naturally are left to rot, meaning: no human intervention whatsoever. This eventually leads to a more natural forest that stores CO2. Woodify issues certificates for the additional amount of CO2 sequestered and sells them to companies.
The scientifically substantiated model relies on calculations carried out by the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development. At a time when large areas of commercial forest with monocultures are dying off, the model is becoming increasingly attractive. If the idea works, says founder Anselm Schneider, it will result in the generation of a lot of natural woodland.
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Пікірлер: 109

  • @johnl.7754
    @johnl.7754Ай бұрын

    To protect the forests the world needs to give financial incentives for countries with the forests to keep them vs plowing them for agriculture otherwise it will steadily disappear.

  • @Teacher.Taufik

    @Teacher.Taufik

    Ай бұрын

    Agreed.

  • @nicolarollinson4381

    @nicolarollinson4381

    Ай бұрын

    Palm trees and, therefore, palm oil are big business. Vast swathes of forests and the natural habitats of orang utans and other wildlife and the indeginous peoples are being destroyed and usurped by palm' plantations on many islands in Indonesia...its heartbreaking to see😢😢 Palm oil is evil

  • @Pasha8204

    @Pasha8204

    Ай бұрын

    Russia forest ~10mln km² ~1billions ha, no Russia, no 10millions km² with ~45mln km² world forest.... Save Russia

  • @son_60han

    @son_60han

    Ай бұрын

    And indonesia is building its new capital in borneo, by destroying more forest

  • @reiddickson

    @reiddickson

    Ай бұрын

    I think this is the only long-term solution, but I wish it were more politically feasible. We've lost 25% of the entire Amazon rainforest in 60 years. Almost all of the Atlantic rainforest is gone. Most (~72%) of the temperature rainforests in the Pacific Northwest are gone. The list of tragedies spans the globe. With unimaginable damage done in such a short amount of time, what will things look like in 1,000 years? 10,000 years? I honestly don't have much hope because the math points to a trend where destruction dramatically outpaces conservation & restoration. The time scale of restoration is many orders of magnitude longer than the time is takes for deforestation to initially occur. The only long-term solution I can think of is a giant international trust fund that amasses enough wealth to either directly buy important ecosystems and manage them as "international parks" vaguely along the lines of Antarctica, or to the point that the fund is indefinitely solvent and can afford investment returns in perpetuity to pay countries adequately to protect & restore their important ecosystems. This'd have to essentially be Norway's sovereign wealth fund but substantially larger. A fund with many trillions of dollars with the capability to supply annual payments in the hundreds of billions (it'd need to pay Brazil alone ~$100 billion annually in 2024 dollars to incentivize against deforestation) -- and the reason it'd need to have its own massive fund is to isolate it from political turbulence. Another solution that seems decently stable long-term is what Tompkins Conservation has successfully done in Chile. They've leveraged their ~4,000 km2 of conserved land into a plan with the Chilean government that today protects some ~44,500 km2 as National Parks. Their reason for doing this was very simple: people usually love National Parks whether they're in the US, Chile, or elsewhere, so if land is a National Park, people will protect it. The problem is this solution alone might not survive through a dictatorship or any other political turbulence that can happen over hundreds (or thousands) of years. I think I've even seen a DW documentary on how war affected a National Park in central Africa (along the eastern border of the DRC maybe?) if my memory is correct. Maybe both of these things are jointly needed. Protect as much significant biodiversity as possible in the form of National Parks (a tactic that provides economic opportunities to local people and is easy for the public to support) and then also pay countries via a giant international fund to protect their important ecosystems. Who knows. Hopefully humanity figures out something, though, because we're really running out of time on protecting a lot of our biodiversity.

  • @mohammedsaysrashid3587
    @mohammedsaysrashid3587Ай бұрын

    An informative and wonderful introduction and incredible warning ⚠️ for protecting old Gaint trees (🌳) . Stopping deforestation . thank you, respectful 🙏( DW) documentary channel.

  • @phoneixashes
    @phoneixashesАй бұрын

    Please add the information of the people/projects/companies etc in the description.

  • @AwesomeFish12

    @AwesomeFish12

    Ай бұрын

    Yes.

  • @sgiione
    @sgiioneАй бұрын

    Sustainable development is important for our future generations

  • @nasrinmita1329

    @nasrinmita1329

    Ай бұрын

    As my subject is geography, sometimes I also work in sustainable development ❤

  • @bulletinvid
    @bulletinvidАй бұрын

    A fresh breath of air from our beloved DW ... awsome ❤

  • @martiansoon9092
    @martiansoon9092Ай бұрын

    Forests most likely does also warm the coldest days, like in winter. Gathering lots of energy from sunlight as they are dark. And lessening the freezing winds around them. And in spring the trees are the points that melts the snowlayer first (dark surface, water dripping to the bottom of the tree, ..). Also in summer lots of water goes through trees. Trees also makes small particles that generates clouds making rains. Trees have been regulating Earths atmosphere. And now we have cut most of them down. And that millenial havoc continues in last tree areas. Losing the trees creates droughts, that keeps drying the area and exposing it to high temperature wildfires that ravages large areas. And in many cases current fires are coming so often that offspring dies before it can make seeds and therefore the wild forests are dying too. With our agricultural fields, roads, town and other structured single specie death zones we have ruined most of the land area. Hardly any untouched trees in Europe. Hardly any large forests in Europe. And same devastation keep on going where ever human species goes. We like our death places. Look around you and think how many living things you can see around you. If you see just concrete and plastic, you live in a death zone. Open your eyes and start to think. Is this the way we really want to live?

  • @7r3v0rc
    @7r3v0rcАй бұрын

    Beautiful forests!

  • @realrockstar2012
    @realrockstar2012Ай бұрын

    Please save our forests....

  • @7YBzzz4nbyte

    @7YBzzz4nbyte

    Ай бұрын

    Plant trees instead of cities, fields and suburbs....

  • @Sami-Nasr
    @Sami-NasrАй бұрын

    20:35 Yep that is the way to go, if you want forests, grow them in your country

  • @Bella-qw4dw
    @Bella-qw4dwАй бұрын

    i was about to comment how this tree canopy walk sounds familiar as if I've heard it in my country before and i was shocked when Malaysia was mentioned.

  • @YK-wizard
    @YK-wizardАй бұрын

    Nice Information

  • @leighgarland3396
    @leighgarland3396Ай бұрын

    “That’s a tarantula’s burrow.. I’m going to respect its space” 😅 same girl same!

  • @user-mp4im3dq8p
    @user-mp4im3dq8pАй бұрын

    Keep the good work Make it as fruitful and enjoyable so other can also join and spread awareness.

  • @robertskolimowski7049
    @robertskolimowski7049Ай бұрын

    Absolutely amazing piece of reporting, bravo DW👏🌳💚

  • @DWDocumentary

    @DWDocumentary

    Ай бұрын

    Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.

  • @davidhorvath8071
    @davidhorvath8071Ай бұрын

    As a hungarian i really appreciate the armband she is wearing lol

  • @Pasha8204
    @Pasha8204Ай бұрын

    Need 4k

  • @dorksplorer
    @dorksplorerАй бұрын

    I live in Arizona. Others don't seem able to see it, but west of Flagstaff, in both public land and private, all the old growth trees are being poached. It's happening slowly, but I don't know who I can talk to who knows what to do to stop it. Any suggestions are appreciated. 🕊️

  • @fortunewrangler8524
    @fortunewrangler852415 сағат бұрын

    Trees are cool, literally!!

  • @GiGaSzS
    @GiGaSzSАй бұрын

    The old forests should be protected worldwide and taxes should be given to countries to discourage deforestation of "lungs" of our society. Also, we should lower our energy consumption as in some parts of the world we are consuming almost as much energy as sun gives off per area, this means that lowering CO2 should be our number 2 priority, after energy decrease!

  • @stanleykubrick8786
    @stanleykubrick8786Ай бұрын

    This is painful to watch. I've driven through old-growth forests in British Columbia, Canada riped apart. For what? Usually virgin toilet paper. We need help. Bigley; we need help.

  • @rainforest_eye
    @rainforest_eyeАй бұрын

    Agreed!

  • @aghost1410
    @aghost1410Ай бұрын

    We need people who try to do logging, pretending to cut trees in order control fires, to accept that the way the forests exists could remain as nature intends that actually protect them from being over exploited and already knows how to stop fires I would give billions to support this

  • @user-jf3yh3dy9h
    @user-jf3yh3dy9h17 күн бұрын

    is there written reports likethat? pdf to help us to get much information

  • @ronaldjimenez2923
    @ronaldjimenez2923Ай бұрын

    Please..Do not Disturb

  • @its_simply_Ndooch
    @its_simply_NdoochАй бұрын

    i am from Kenya and i would kindly request for a water storage tank,i live in a semi arid area where we don't have enough rain for my tree seedlings....i am humbly requesting for some donation.Thanks.

  • @abhayanand9585
    @abhayanand958516 күн бұрын

    That idea is awesome of conserving the forest but requires a lot of money though...

  • @ramthian
    @ramthianАй бұрын

    ❤❤❤

  • @user-yy9hk9od9u
    @user-yy9hk9od9uАй бұрын

    Large forests keep humans from going extinct.

  • @user-qg7eu6bt1g
    @user-qg7eu6bt1gАй бұрын

    Topside st. At their co- oprative groce .

  • @aghost1410
    @aghost1410Ай бұрын

    REMEMBER HOW IMPORTANT BUGS ARE AND IT HELPS THE FOREST AND THE LIFE

  • @DWDocumentary

    @DWDocumentary

    Ай бұрын

    Hi, we encourage discussion on all our documentary topics, but we kindly ask our viewers to please remain respectful and stick to our netiquette policy: p.dw.com/p/MF1G

  • @tonylayfield8750
    @tonylayfield8750Ай бұрын

    Fact: Levels of biodiversity were higher back when atmospheric Carbon Dioxide levels and temperature were higher.

  • @documentaryshow
    @documentaryshow27 күн бұрын

  • @buddhidev7877
    @buddhidev7877Ай бұрын

    Thailand and India are the example of land use misconduct by deforesting the river delta forest for farming.

  • @sanbest93mobile-ko5xh
    @sanbest93mobile-ko5xhАй бұрын

    oceans are not the lungs of our planet. boreal forests are not the lungs of our planet. this teeny-tiny amazon bushes are. yep

  • @marickshorts
    @marickshortsАй бұрын

    The ozone layer, acid rain, rising sea levels, earth core temperature, climate change, shortages, pandamics... oh no

  • @manriquebrian
    @manriquebrianАй бұрын

    Please universe let the humans leave the trees alone 🙏💙

  • @raclark2730

    @raclark2730

    Ай бұрын

    Unless they are putting them in the ground.🌳😎

  • @son_60han

    @son_60han

    Ай бұрын

    Impossible. Human population is already at alarming state

  • @manriquebrian

    @manriquebrian

    Ай бұрын

    @son_60han lol I know that's why I said please universe

  • @raclark2730

    @raclark2730

    Ай бұрын

    @@son_60han Its dropping just need more trees, sign up.

  • @raclark2730

    @raclark2730

    Ай бұрын

    Real genuine horticulturalist and tree planter. ⬅

  • @BUY_YOUTUB_VIEWS_754
    @BUY_YOUTUB_VIEWS_754Ай бұрын

    Your authenticity is refreshing. It's clear that you genuinely love what you do. Keep it up!

  • @xhex6571
    @xhex657121 күн бұрын

    Please, please make sure you keep the undergrowth under control with things like fuel reduction burns or your efforts to sequester the carbon will be for nothing when wildfires rip through. I'm Australian, ask me what happens when the fuel load gets to be to much

  • @janklaas6885
    @janklaas6885Ай бұрын

    📍17:27

  • @wellingtonjuniordeoliveira2451
    @wellingtonjuniordeoliveira2451Ай бұрын

    Where is the European florets? 👀

  • @dan8910100

    @dan8910100

    Ай бұрын

    no room, to many immigrants

  • @chongsenlaw2414
    @chongsenlaw2414Ай бұрын

    To discourage forest cutting, people benefited should be paid for it. The worst is EU while enjoying the benefits but imposed sanctions on others who are giving the benefits to them.

  • @scubaguy5389
    @scubaguy5389Ай бұрын

    i wish i had their optimism. i unfortunately do not.

  • @indigenousnorwegianeuropa4145
    @indigenousnorwegianeuropa4145Ай бұрын

    Change is the only constant🫵

  • @ErezElene
    @ErezElene16 күн бұрын

    I really wish that instead of chopping down forests to build pollutive, slave-operated mines to make coal-powered EVs, governments would focus on planting trees instead. It's literally such an easy, effective, and low-cost solution that benefits everyone. Imagine more green spaces and trees in cities especially, which clean the air, cool temperatures, and protect birds. The lack of intentional, let alone competent, forestation policy in the U.S. is criminal. But politicians push "green" technology instead, because they can profit off of the market. It's a sick world we live in.

  • @comunicatiisitehnologiainf5208
    @comunicatiisitehnologiainf520818 күн бұрын

    I am saddened by the fate of forests and the environment. But what saddens me even more is human insensitivity. The fact that a well-documented material gets 50k views in two weeks, while a young lady trying on transparent clothes gets 2M views in two days, this says enough about human nature. Sad. 😥

  • @son_60han
    @son_60hanАй бұрын

    Is it necessary to build canopy? What is this? Tourist promotion ? Why not just leave the forest alone?

  • @3rdeyeEagle
    @3rdeyeEagleАй бұрын

    luxury is Dangerous....

  • @user-gd8tx7zp5m
    @user-gd8tx7zp5mАй бұрын

    Protect Rainforrests Plant trees!

  • @anikettripathi7991
    @anikettripathi799128 күн бұрын

    Plantation of bushes and small plants can't compensates for cutting five hundred years old. Human life can easily sustain without technologies but never without forests and water..

  • @Sound_of_the_trees
    @Sound_of_the_treesАй бұрын

    save old growth! call your local government and demand protection for your forests

  • @badhombre4942
    @badhombre4942Ай бұрын

    "Our forests." So virtuous of the colonists who decimated their forests to now preach to their former colonies.

  • @dan8910100

    @dan8910100

    Ай бұрын

    then quit colonizing the internet.

  • @ErezElene

    @ErezElene

    16 күн бұрын

    OG commenter completely missing the point lol

  • @andrewwilgress4100
    @andrewwilgress4100Ай бұрын

    Some should be saved but any true naturalist will cut out large amounts of old growth. Nothing grows or eats under old growth

  • @catalina5382
    @catalina5382Ай бұрын

    If you want to save these trees, leave animal products off your plate, change your diet. Extensive cattle ranching is the number one culprit of deforestation in virtually every Amazon country, and it accounts for 80% of deforestation. The deforestation caused by cattle ranching is responsible for the release of 340 million tons of carbon to the atmosphere every year, equivalent to 3.4% of current global emissions. If you want to say soy too, the soy that is grown in the amazon, goes mostly to feed animals, only 7% of world's soy is used for human consumption, much of the rest is to feed animals. In just last 50 years, we've witnessed the obliteration of approximately 70% of the world's wildlife , much of that is because of habitat loss due to expansion of animal agriculture. While animal products provide only 18% of our protein, they consume a staggering 80% of global agricultural land. Id you want to actually save these forests, look at the reason they are cut and that is what's in your plate.

  • @abdulahaduygur6811
    @abdulahaduygur6811Ай бұрын

    Why did you delete the documentary you made about Uyghurs?

  • @dan239
    @dan239Ай бұрын

    I’m gonna get everyone’s tax dollars to make me rich and you’re all to blame for ruining the earth.

  • @troygoss6400
    @troygoss6400Ай бұрын

    Everyone can do their part by , consuming little to no products made from animals. The bulk of the soy farmed in the Amazon goes to feed animals.

  • @1112viggo
    @1112viggoАй бұрын

    Ehh i don't know about this. Letting little kids run around the Amazonas looking for insects etc. Isn't that kind of thing best left to people with some outdoor experience and knowledge of the local wildlife? She should give the "yoink guy" a call.

  • @user-qg7eu6bt1g
    @user-qg7eu6bt1gАй бұрын

    Eccept st free $$$max labek returns .

  • @ashishc.s4353
    @ashishc.s4353Ай бұрын

    It's already too late to save given the political disagreements

  • @levystein666
    @levystein666Ай бұрын

    Holoweather 😂

  • @kk-xj5oz
    @kk-xj5oz20 күн бұрын

    you cannot have people capitalizing on passivly owning forest. it goes against all principles off free market capitalism. if we want to save forest we need to nationalize it.

  • @dan8910100
    @dan8910100Ай бұрын

    why should i care?

  • @geoffreydonaldson2984
    @geoffreydonaldson2984Ай бұрын

    There are lots of good reasons to preserve more old-growth forests, but carbon sequestration ain’t one of them.

  • @user-jz4tr5df4v
    @user-jz4tr5df4vАй бұрын

    We want LGBTQ+ rights in Bangladesh. 🏳️‍🌈🇧🇩🏳️‍🌈

  • @mickzammit6794
    @mickzammit6794Ай бұрын

    Where I live the forests are being cleared to make way for wind farms. Makes no sense to me. Somebody is making a lot of money from nonsense and we can thank Greenies for helping such madness

  • @snicker576
    @snicker576Ай бұрын

    Uuuggghhhhhhhh even more climate stuff 😩 I love and appreciate DW, but it's such a massive world out there, overdoing this specific topic to this degree is very.... odd.

  • @alexverdigris9939

    @alexverdigris9939

    Ай бұрын

    Is it too hard for you to ignore it, then? Just watch something else instead.

  • @jpallen719
    @jpallen719Ай бұрын

    Oh you’re a 50 year old logger? ….. it’s time for you to go……..