Discovery that certain tree species convert atmospheric carbon dioxide into limestone
International scientists have determined that certain tree species convert atmospheric carbon dioxide into limestone, which is stored underground for thousands of years.
An international study jointly conducted by researchers from Switzerland, Austria, the US, and Kenya revealed that certain tree species possess a geobiological mechanism that transforms atmospheric carbon dioxide into permanent limestone underground.
Details of the International Research
Presented at the Goldschmidt Geochemistry Conference in Prague, the international study was carried out with the participation of researchers from Switzerland, Austria, the US, and Kenya, presenting groundbreaking findings regarding nature's capacity to protect the climate.
The Oxalate-Carbonate Pathway and Permanent Storage
Trees convert the carbon dioxide they absorb from the atmosphere during photosynthesis into calcium oxalate crystals within their bodies, and through the decomposition of fallen leaves by soil microorganisms, this substance turns into limestone.
Because the carbon leaves its gaseous or organic form and transforms into a geological stone, it remains locked in the soil for hundreds of thousands of years and is not released back into the atmosphere through decay.
Examples of Kenya and African Oak
While specific fig species in Kenya convert the carbon dioxide they inhale into a geological mineral within the soil, the Iroko tree, which grows in the tropical forests of West and Central Africa, also operates this mechanism with high efficiency.
Known as African Oak, the giant Iroko trees accumulate massive amounts of limestone around their roots throughout their life cycles, regulating the pH balance of the soil.
New Strategies in the Climate Struggle
Dr. Mike Rowley from the University of Zurich emphasized that selecting species capable of storing both organic and inorganic carbon in agroforestry projects has now become a strategic necessity.