Emissions from loss of plant diversity spells massive climate trouble: Study
By Liz Kimbrough Plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air and store it in their leaves, stems, roots and the soil. But as climate change and human activities drive more plant species toward extinction, that stored carbon could be released back into the atmosphere, potentially accelerating climate change. A new study published in Nature Communications suggests this biodiversity-driven carbon loss may be a major overlooked source of future emissions. The researchers used computer modeling to estimate that losing plant diversity around the world could release between 7 billion and 146 billion me...