Study: Bison herd removes more carbon than world’s largest CO2 capture plant

JACK ALYMER: COULD ANIMALS BE THE KEY TO SAVING THE EARTH FROM POLLUTION?

THE ANSWER HINGES ON THIS HERD OF BISON.

THEY COULD BE BETTER FOR OUR ATMOSPHERE THAN THE WORLD’S LARGEST CARBON CAPTURE FACILITY.

LET ME BACK UP A BIT.

OVER 200 YEARS AGO, HERDS OF THESE ANIMALS ROAMED THE FIELDS OF PRESENT-DAY ROMANIA.

BUT, THE SPECIES ULTIMATELY WENT EXTINCT FROM THE REGION, LEAVING A HOLE IN THE ECOSYSTEM.

SO IN 20-14, BISON WERE REINTRODUCED TO ROMANIA-
FERTILIZING GRASSLANDS, SPREADING PLANT SEEDS, AND SPURRING ECOLOGICAL GROWTH.

IN THE PROCESS, THESE LARGE ANIMALS ALSO COMPACT THE SOIL BENEATH THEM-
AND THAT’S WHERE THE PLANET PROTECTING POWER COMES FROM.

THAT STOMPING ACTION – ACTUALLY LOCKS CARBON IN THE GROUND.

EVERY YEAR, THE BISON TRAP AN ADDITIONAL 54,000 TONS OF CO-2 EMISSIONS-
EQUIVALENT TO THE POLLUTION GENERATED ANNUALLY BY 43,000 CARS

THIS IS ALL ACCORDING TO SCIENTISTS AT THE YALE SCHOOL OF THE ENVIRONMENT.

THEIR FINDINGS HAVE NOT YET BEEN PEER-REVIEWED.
THEY MAKE A CASE FOR THE ROLE THESE ANIMALS CAN PLAY IN HELPING MITIGATE CARBON EMISSIONS.

AND BISON AREN’T THE ONLY CREATURES THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO LEND A HAND.

THE STUDIES LEAD AUTHOR HAS PREVIOUSLY THEORIZED THAT PROTECTING AND RESTORING JUST NINE ANIMAL SPECIES COULD DRAMATICALLY CUT DOWN ON POLLUTION.

OUTSIDE OF THE BISON, THESE INCLUDE: GRAY WOLVES, WILDEBEEST, AFRICAN FOREST ELEPHANTS, AND MORE.

THEIR RESEARCH INDICATES AN ADDITIONAL 6.4 BILLION TONS OF CARBON DIOXIDE COULD BE CAPTURED EVERY YEAR-IF THIS HAPPENS.
WHICH IS ABOUT EQUAL TO THE ANNUAL EMISSIONS OF THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES.

JACK AYLMER- STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS.