Environment

Deforestation causing more harm—experts

Few people replant forest that have lost trees
Few people replant forest that have lost trees

Carbon, which comes from charcoal burning, is said to be contributing to global warming more than any other factors, experts have said.

Last Tuesday, experts from various sectors gathered in Lilongwe at a workshop organised by Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Management where they discussed the way forward on Reduction of Degradation, Deforestation and Emission (Redd+).

Malawi Redd+ country adviser John Kekering said apart from causing land degradation and other environmental problems, tree cutting is doing more damage than the eye can see. Estimates indicate that up to 20 percent of carbon emissions are from trees that have been cut down for firewood and charcoal.

Kekering said this means that deforestation is leading to global warming more than other factors such as machines and vehicles.

“Trees and biomass turn into carbon when they are burnt, so it is simple that the more firewood and charcoal consumed, the more smoke they produce which accumulates in the atmosphere and causes global warming that is resulting in climate change,” he said.

He said forests can help reverse climate change and its effects.

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