Back to the roots

 

Every day, huge areas of forest are felled to produce biomass or make room for intensive farming. And the new forests that are planted for wood production have very little biodiversity. This is not only short-sighted, but downright disastrous for the development of the world. Because the photosynthesis of forests converts light and air to life.

This mechanism is as old as the earth. And it is both fundamental and brilliant. Photosynthesis creates conditions for biodiversity and sequesters huge amounts of carbon – even far into the future provided that we use the wood in the right way.

Deforestation is not only one of the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions, it also results in landslides, desertification and extreme weather conditions.

We need to get back to the roots. See our forests as a tool to fight and mitigate climate change, strengthen the world by a broader diversity of plants and animals and respect people’s need for wood and farming land in all areas of the world. Through alternative ways of using and reusing wood we might also find a way to help oil and coal stay in the ground.  

In short, we need to understand the importance of forests anew. We need to see modern forestry as something other than the exploitation of nature - in accordance with the needs of human society.

We must research, investigate and develop new methods to integrate human and nature’s needs – based on some of the most primeval environments we have.

For these reasons, VELUX STIFTUNG donated DKK 35 mio. for research and dissemination through the project 'Climate and Forestry.

 

Contact:
Charlotte Korsager Winther
Head of Communications, THE VELUX FOUNDATIONS
Phone: 
+45 51 17 67 74
Email: 
ckw@fondene.dk