A new international study has highlighted a growing dilemma in climate policy: efforts to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by planting forests or bioenergy crops could unintentionally harm biodiversity if they are placed in ecologically sensitive areas. The research suggests that while forestation remains an important tool to combat climate change, poorly planned projects may damage habitats that support thousands of species.
The study, published in the journal Nature Climate Change, analyzed areas across the world that are being considered for large-scale carbon dioxide removal (CDR) projects. Researchers found that nearly 13% of globally important biodiversity-rich land overlaps with regions proposed for such climate initiatives.
Climate solutions may clash with biodiversity protection
Forests play a crucial role in absorbing carbon dioxide, making them a key part of global climate strategies. As trees grow, they capture carbon from the atmosphere while providing habitat for wildlife ranging from mammals and birds to fungi and insects.
However, scientists warn that converting natural ecosystems such as grasslands into new forests or bioenergy plantations could disrupt existing biodiversity. According to lead researcher Ruben Prütz from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, many climate models prioritize carbon removal but do not fully consider the ecological consequences.
The study examined five major climate models designed to help achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. By combining these models with biodiversity data covering around 135,000 species including plants, vertebrates, fungi and invertebrates the research provided one of the most comprehensive assessments to date.
Emissions cuts remain the most effective climate strategy
Researchers found that avoiding biodiversity hotspots while implementing carbon removal projects could reduce the available land for such initiatives by more than 50% by 2050. This finding highlights the difficulty of balancing climate mitigation with ecosystem protection.
Environmental experts say the results underline the importance of cutting greenhouse gas emissions rather than relying too heavily on carbon removal technologies in the future.
Christian Hof from the University of Würzburg noted that the combination of climate change and land-use transformation could create serious risks for ecosystems worldwide.
The study also found that many proposed carbon removal projects are concentrated in countries in the Global South, raising concerns about fairness because these nations have historically contributed far less to global emissions than wealthier countries.
Despite the challenges, scientists emphasize that well-planned forest restoration using native species can still provide major climate and ecological benefits. However, they say future climate policies must carefully balance carbon capture efforts with the need to protect the planet’s remaining biodiversity.