Trees closing in on 'carbon saturation point'

Europe's forests have almost reached the point at which they will no longer be able to absorb carbon dioxide, according to a new study. Trees within Europe have almost reached their 'carbon saturation point' and the amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide they have been absorbing has been decreasing since 2005.

The research, published in 'Nature Climate Change', also listed deforestation and declining trees as possible causes of the decline in the levels of carbon dioxide that trees throughout Europe's forests are absorbing. The age of many of the trees also means that they are unable to perform their carbon absorbing functions as well as they did in the past.

Natural threats to the forests are also reducing the tree population, causing lower levels of carbon dioxide to be reduced from the atmosphere. Attacks from insects, storms and an increase in the number of wildfires are all serving to deplete tree stocks throughout Europe.

Trees are an important natural carbon sink that have been a key factor in maintaining the current rate of climate change. However, as they continue to become less effective, they will no longer provide adequate defence from global warming. According to the research, European forests now only soak up around ten per cent of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

The complete saturation point could be reached as early as 2030, unless action is taken as early as possible, according to Gert-Jan Nabuurs from Wageningen University and Research in the Netherlands. Creating more forests and reducing the levels of deforestation could serve to help maintain trees' ability to absorb carbon dioxide.

Although Europe has undergone the process of planting trees and allowing forests to naturally spread, and so is now in the greenest state seen since Medieval times. However, forest growth has slowed since the trees are ageing. The lack of new trees is further depleting the amount of greenhouse gases that are being removed from the atmosphere.