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Will the trees save us?

In Tolkein's fantasy world the ents came to the rescue of earthlings as they struggled against the forces of Mordor. The ents were ancient trees, protecting the planet from a scorched earth policy.
Written by Harry Fuller, Contributor

In Tolkein's fantasy world the ents came to the rescue of earthlings as they struggled against the forces of Mordor. The ents were ancient trees, protecting the planet from a scorched earth policy. Real-life science indicates trees will not rescue us from global warming, that's just fantasy. A forest ecologist warns the world's forests cannot absorb the excess carbon dioxide as fast as we pump it out. While, the green zone of the planet is moving north, we are losing tropical and temperate green cover to drought and desertification, he says. DEFORESTATION Some environmental groups have long descried the destruction of tropical forest. Today comes word that the cattle industry in Brazil is now opting for less tree cutting, more care in how their stock is raised. This is good news for those wishing to see the Amazonia forests continue to stand, and absorb carbon dioxide. MASS EXTINCTION Due to climate and habitat changes, one scientist concludes that we are living through one of the earth's greatest mass extinctions. Right now. One scientist at Jet Propulsion Lab says the effects of global warming are global. No place on earth is free from the changes being wrought. Even gated communities and military bases are subject to global warming. Here's a direct rebuttal to those who argue the earth's warming is just a natural process. The head of the American Meteorological Society says humans are changing the atmosphere in ways never before seen on this planet.

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