Discussion

Started 2nd Aug, 2023

Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw 🏛️

How can we reduce paper consumption, save wood, trees and reduce forest deforestation, protect biodiversity and climate?

What, in your opinion, are the methods, ways, legal solutions, new material and other technologies to reduce paper consumption, save wood and trees?

What, in your opinion, are the actions and projects that can contribute to forest conservation, to convert deforestation into afforestation, to protect the climate, biosphere and biodiversity of the planet's natural ecosystems, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and counteract the ongoing process of global warming?

As we know, trees, forests, especially old, natural forests, primeval forests with old-growth forests without human interference, without the influence of civilization, are the refuge of the greatest resources of biodiversity of natural ecosystems. Besides, forests play a particularly important role in the issue of slowing down the human-induced global warming process, which is progressing faster and faster. Forests also play a very important role in mitigating weather and climate anomalies, maintaining a mild microclimate friendly to living organisms, keeping the soil and air moist, maintaining the high level of biodiversity and soil fertility created over thousands or millions of years, and so on.

Deforestation still dominates over afforestation in many regions of the world. Forests are still being cut down and burned to acquire new areas for agricultural development, the cultivation of crops, which is usually carried out in the form of unsustainable robbery. In addition, this practice is carried out mainly in the tropics and subtropics, where after logging, forests created new arable land is quickly subject to drought and the soil becomes barren. Restoring a forest that has functioned for thousands of years or more in a specific area on the depleted soil requires huge expenditures. In addition, vegetable crops are grown on these new agricultural areas, which are either transported thousands of kilometers to other countries, which generates high greenhouse gas emissions, or are not used for human food but for livestock feed, which also generates high emissions, as industrial livestock farming is a source of high emissions of the potent greenhouse gas methane. Therefore, with a view to protecting the climate, biosphere and biodiversity of the planet's natural ecosystems, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and counteract the ongoing process of global warming.

Various examples of reducing paper consumption and saving forests are as follows:

In some countries, the scale of printing notebooks, notebooks, books, including school books, has been reduced and students as early as elementary school write at school on tablets or laptops rather than in paper notebooks. Green economic activities involving, for example, the production of furniture from recycled materials are also emerging.

Another example is the replacement of dirty energy based on burning firewood with renewable and emission-free sources of clean energy. Unfortunately, in some countries, in order to falsify statistics on the development of renewable energy at the behest of the government, central statistical institutions, ministries and government agencies dealing with climate and environmental issues also count firewood as a renewable energy source. Such absurdities unfortunately still exist in some countries.

Another example is the use of secondary raw materials of various origins in the construction industry instead of using wood, and especially instead of newly harvested wood from companies producing building materials based on fresh, new wood raw material from a sawmill.

As of 1.8.2023, paper receipts are not printed in France to save trees. You have to ask for a printed receipt if the customer needs one.

What other examples of reducing paper consumption and saving forests are as follows?

In view of the above, I address the following question to the esteemed community of scientists and researchers:

What, in your opinion, are the actions and undertakings that can contribute to forest conservation, to convert deforestation into afforestation, to protect the climate, biosphere and biodiversity of the planet's natural ecosystems, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and counteract the ongoing process of global warming?

What do you think are the methods, ways, legal solutions, new material technologies and others to reduce paper consumption, save wood and trees?