Jatropha ‘Carbon Farming’ Could Lower Atmospheric CO2 Levels

Large forests planted with a single species of tough small trees could capture enough carbon from the atmosphere to slow climate change and green the world's deserts at the same time, researchers say.

A group of German scientists says the tree Jatropha curcas is resistant to arid conditions and can thrive where food crops would not survive.  Since jatropha trees do require some water, the authors suggest they should be planted near coastal regions where desalinated seawater could be accessible.

Under the slogan “Nature Does it Better,” the scientists say the costs are comparable with the estimated cost of developing carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology at power stations. With only a small proportion of the world’s deserts, they say, these trees could take out most of the additional carbon dioxide emitted by humans since the beginning of the industrial revolution.

Scientists Say Nature ‘Is Better at Carbon Farming’