How old-growth forests protect our climate | DW Documentary

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Published 2024-04-09
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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All Comments (21)
  • @johnl.7754
    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.
  • @sgiione
    Sustainable development is important for our future generations
  • @mohammedsaysrashid3587
    An informative and wonderful introduction and incredible warning ⚠️ for protecting old Gaint trees (🌳) . Stopping deforestation . thank you, respectful 🙏( DW) documentary channel.
  • @martiansoon9092
    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?
  • @phoneixashes
    Please add the information of the people/projects/companies etc in the description.
  • @bulletinvid
    A fresh breath of air from our beloved DW ... awsome ❤
  • @Bella-qw4dw
    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.
  • @Sami-Nasr
    20:35 Yep that is the way to go, if you want forests, grow them in your country
  • @user-mp4im3dq8p
    Keep the good work Make it as fruitful and enjoyable so other can also join and spread awareness.
  • @leiighslivelylens
    “That’s a tarantula’s burrow.. I’m going to respect its space” 😅 same girl same!
  • @GiGaSzS
    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!
  • @chongsenlaw2414
    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.
  • @stanleykubrick8786
    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.
  • @abhayanand9585
    That idea is awesome of conserving the forest but requires a lot of money though...