Real plants vs. Light power plants : lacking of carbon sequestration data causing a dilemma

Planting trees and afforestation to obtain carbon sinks is one of the options for carbon reduction. However, Taiwan has a small land area and a dense population, it is difficult for us to have a large area of forest to offset our carbon emission. As a result, we are caught in a tug-of-war between thinning out afforestation and "we should not cutting down large trees and planting small trees". Scholars point out that there is a lack of basic data on native tree species, resulting in biased decesion making.

Professor Shih-Chieh Chang of the CIRES Center said that according to scientific data, afforestation of one hectare per year sequesters about 10 metric tons of carbon; but the same one hectare of solar photovoltaic power, calculated with a 1MW installation capacity, can generate about 1 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year in Hualien and reduce fossil fuel combustion emissions by about 500 to 600 metric tons.

Professor I-Fang Sun of the CIRES Center emphasized that installing photovoltaic panels does not mean there will be no problems ever after. The larger the area of the photovoltaic panels, the greater the edge effects will be. For example, crops require bees for pollination. If the temperature is too high and the pollination path is interrupted, it may also affect crop growth. The academic community is currently studying the extent of the impact.

The Forestry Bureau has established the "Taiwan Native Tree Seedling Network," but when calculating carbon sequestration, there's insufficient parameters and basic data on Taiwan's native tree species. Prof. Sun told CNA reporters that although Taiwan uses international calculation methods, only a limited number of species can have complete data, making them incompletely representative.

Prof. Sun explained that forestland utilization requires planning from the outset. While thinning is unnecessary for biodiversity conservation, it is necessary for economic development. For example, a plantation of 2,500 trees might only leave 400 after thinning. This is for forest production. The existing forestry economic model cannot be used as a criterion for carbon sequestration. Bamboo forests, betel nut plantations, or land deemed unsuitable for cultivation can also be beneficial if released for tree planting.

ESG (Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance) is becoming a prominent concept. Governments, many businesses, and non-governmental organizations are promoting ESG and striving to achieve carbon neutrality. Recognizing the existence of forest carbon sinks, planting trees to reduce carbon emissions is readily understood, and many are seeking land for tree planting. (Image: Schematic diagram of afforestation land.) (Courtesy of the Forestry Bureau.) Central News Agency reporter Yi-Ning Zeng, June 19, 2023.

CNA:

Planting trees vs. Planting light power panels 4 : lacking of carbon sequestration data causing a dilemma

https://www.cna.com.tw/news/ahel/202306190017.aspx