Down with trees

摘要

Conventional wisdom says trees are good for the environment. They absorb carbon dioxide-a greenhouse gas-from the atmosphere and store it as carbon while releasing oxygen, a process for which forests have been dubbed "the lungs of the planet". The roots of trees have been thought to trap sediments and nutrients in the soil, keeping nearby rivers free flowing. Trees have also been credited with steadying the flow of these rivers, keeping it relatively constant through wet and dry seasons, thus preventing both drought and flooding. Pernicious nonsense, conclude two pieces of research published this week.