Plight of Super Trees should weigh on our decisions

Over the holidays, several media outlets picked up parts of a vox.com report about “Super Trees.” The article, supported by the Pulitzer Center, discusses three tropical species dubbed Super Trees that play important roles in regulating global climate.

The least understood of the three, and most threatened, is known as African teak, or Afrormosia (Pericopsis elata). This rainforest tree grows to 120 feet tall and was once common throughout the Congo River basin. It’s in demand in Europe, the U.S. and China for flooring and yacht construction.

Today, the tree is only thriving in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where poor roads and government regulation give it some protection from illegal logging. When more than 12% of the trees in an area are removed, the remaining trees decrease in vigor.

The trees are fire-resistant and provide shade and food for animals. Their expansive canopy protects against soil erosion and nutrient loss during heavy tropical downpours. The trees are also the largest carbon sink in the Congo River basin (the second largest rainforest in the world), which means they store huge amounts of dangerous greenhouse gas.

The second Super Tree is also a rainforest native. Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa) is the source of selenium-rich nuts and hardwood but also plays a vital role in both carbon sequestration and weather in the Amazon River basin.

Like African teak, this tree can soar well over 120 feet. And in addition to supplying food and habitat for wildlife, the tree’s ability to cycle water is so great it actually creates a weather system that can be seen on radar. Each tree releases hundreds of gallons of water vapor each day. The forest full of these giants creates clouds that supply drinking water for cities as far away as Sao Paulo. It’s estimated that the rainfall created by the trees is more than the water contained in the Amazon River.

Unfortunately, these trees are being cut for flooring and replaced by palm oil plantations, soy fields and cattle ranches. About 17% of the Amazon rainforest has been cut, and computer modeling shows the rainmaking machine will stop once losses reach 25%.

Stilt, or red mangrove (Rhizophora stylosa), the third Super Tree, is native to Southeast Asia, the Indonesian archipelago and northern Australia. These coastal natives sequester up to 10 times the amount of carbon as the largest rainforest trees, protect against coastal erosion and act as nurseries for shrimp and fish. They are being destroyed primarily in Indonesia for palm oil plantations and shrimp farms.

Palm oil is used in meat substitutes, snack foods and dairy substitutes. (It can be listed under several names on labels.) Consumers should check that palm oil was ethically produced and look for CITES (Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species) certification when choosing hardwood. Neither are guarantees, but they help start the conversation about how our choices affect the planet. Many people are uncomfortable thinking about sustainability, but they will be more uncomfortable when they have to live with the consequences of environmental degradation.