Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• What is global warming?

Global warming is the increase in the Earth's temperature caused by the emission of greenhouse gases primarily generated by human activity.

While the greenhouse effect is essential for the habitability of our planet, human activities such as burning fossil fuels, and changes in land use, such as deforestation, have intensified this phenomenon. This has led to several secondary sources of greenhouse gases. Learn more about global warming and its causes to help reduce its impact on our planet.

• What is a greenhouse gas (GHG)?

Gases, both natural and anthropogenic (emitted by humans), that contribute to global warming.

Carbon dioxide is a molecule made up of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms (CO2). It occurs naturally in the atmosphere, but it is also the main greenhouse gas emitted by human activities.

Plants use sunlight energy to combine carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air with water and nutrients from the soil to produce sugars, which is their primary source of food. Trees and forest plants contain carbon.

• What is carbon dioxide (CO2)?

Trees play a crucial role on our planet: they produce oxygen, which is essential for most species, and absorb carbon dioxide (CO2), the main component of greenhouse gases that cause global warming and climate change.

Forests have the ability to decrease the greenhouse effect by capturing and storing carbon. As forests grow, they absorb CO2 from the atmosphere and convert it into carbon that is stored in their trunks, roots, leaves, and in the soil. By preventing deforestation and degradation, we avoid releasing stored carbon back into the atmosphere.

Changing land use is one of the most important sources of greenhouse gases worldwide. Trees not only help capture carbon, but also produce oxygen, purify the air, create fertile soil, prevent erosion, capture water for aquifers, maintain clean rivers, provide habitats for wildlife, reduce soil temperature, promote the establishment of other species, regenerate soil nutrients, and enhance landscapes.

• What role do trees and wetlands play?