Arctic Ocean Sinks? New Plan to Store Carbon

A novel geoengineering concept suggests sinking mature trees from vast boreal forests into the deep Arctic Ocean to sequester carbon for millennia. Researchers from the UK, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic explored this idea using computer modeling, focusing on removing old, fire-prone trees from Canada, Alaska, and Russia.

The proposal includes replanting fast-growing trees in place to boost atmospheric carbon absorption. Scientists believe the cold, low-oxygen Arctic waters could significantly slow wood decay, similar to ancient trees found preserved in Alpine lakes. This method could potentially remove one gigaton of carbon dioxide annually by targeting just one percent of the boreal forest.

However, the plan presents significant practical and environmental hurdles. Transporting massive quantities of felled trees to Arctic rivers and then sinking them in the ocean requires substantial energy and machinery, generating its own carbon footprint. The long-term ecological impact on ocean floor organisms remains unknown.

Furthermore, removing mature trees severely disrupts established forest ecosystems, impacting biodiversity and the myriad life forms they support. The proposal also raises concerns about its effect on the traditional lifestyles of Indigenous populations living within these forests. The initiative is presented as a last-ditch effort if the primary issue of burning fossil fuels is not addressed.