Planting Forests for Carbon Sequestration

[CRH]

2. Plantation silviculture didn't work out so well for many in central america, ...

In the late eighties and nineties many 'environmentalist investors' bought into teak and other hardwood farms. The investments promised unrealistic returns, could be used in IRA portfolios, and gave those that wanted an alternative green investment, an option. Problem was most were scams, many people lost a sizable portion of their investments. Many of the new plantations were using marginal at best, land, and were poorly managed and maintained. None that I know of lived up to their production promises, and most were bankrupt and abandoned within twenty years.

The remnants of many are used now for barbecue charcoal. The jobs they were supposed to have brought to the host countries were short lived, and in many cases the worker taxes were left unpaid once the investment accounts were sold in full. Many plantations were abandoned once it was obvious projections and marketing guidelines could not be realized.

There are some other managed forests run by governments that accomplish sequestration with more efficiency. In Costa Rica the tree seedlings are given to those who can prove a viable reforestation project is realistic on their property. There remains good intentions in these programs. But in every commercial project I know of, most were scams, the remaining badly managed and ineffective to their purpose.

The other obvious question now that tipping points are being passed and the climates is changing, is how effective will silviculture be now that stable climate conditions can not be predicted for any duration. Reforestation is yet another area where the best time for it, might have passed.