Trees, Soil, and Climate: What is the Connection?

Land plays an important role in climate, biodiversity, and people’s lives. Plants and soils absorb carbon dioxide, store carbon, and recycle rainwater, affecting the planet’s temperature and weather. Land also provides food, timber, and other products that we need to survive. Some land activities, like planting trees, can take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, reducing global warming. Other land activities, like restoring wetlands, can help protect infrastructure and ecosystems from the results of a changing climate, like flooding. This article will explain how land management can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, help people respond to changes in climate, and improve biodiversity. We will also talk about how scientists measure and understand these activities and their effects.