Some of the world's biggest forests might start losing their carbon-sucking powers in just a few decades, says a study by New Zealand and US scientists. Taking in less, but losing moreThe world’s roughly three trillion trees, and other plants, act as Earth’s lungs. They take in carbon dioxide and combine it with water and light, to make carbohydrates to build their bodies – the process of photosynthesis. Combined, oceans and plants stop about half the carbon dioxide people emit from reaching the atmosphere. Happily for humanity, as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere rises, plants boost their rate of photosynthesis – a handy trend known as the “carbon dioxide fertilisation effect”.

Source: Stuff January 13, 2021 18:56 UTC