Planting trees in Arctic regions like Alaska, Greenland, and Iceland may harm the climate rather than help it, according to a study published in Nature Geoscience.
Researchers argue that while trees store carbon, their impact on the Arctic’s high albedo—its ability to reflect solar radiation due to snow cover—leads to increased warming. Trees darken the snowy surface, reducing its reflectivity and causing more solar energy to be absorbed.
Additionally, Arctic soils store vast amounts of carbon, more than all the Earth’s forests combined. Tree roots release sugars that stimulate microbes, triggering the release of ancient soil carbon—a process known as the priming effect. This results in significant greenhouse gas emissions over decades.
Forests in the Arctic are also vulnerable to wildfires, pests, and extreme weather, making them unreliable long-term carbon sinks. Moreover, afforestation disrupts biodiversity and traditional livelihoods like reindeer herding.
Instead of tree planting, researchers suggest supporting large herbivores such as caribou or musk oxen, which help keep tundra landscapes open and reduce soil temperatures. These nature-based solutions, led by Arctic communities, offer a more sustainable path for addressing climate change in the region.
