UK's Old Trees Critical to Climate Change Fight

• This short article and brief video describes recent scientific research that revealed the amount of carbon stored in large trees in about double what was previously estimated.
• The research utilized lasers to more accurately measure the volume of carbon in trees and forests in the United Kingdom.

Positives

• This article includes a video that serves as a fascinating visual to illustrate the method of measuring tree volume using lasers.
• The article does an excellent job of showing the importance of scientific research by explaining how accurate tree weight data can be applied to conservation action and policy.

Additional Prerequisites

• Learners should be familiar with the terms carbon storage and carbon sink.
• The video does not include narration, so make sure all students can view the screen.
  
• Students should be familiar with the basics of photosynthesis and the carbon cycle.
  

Differentiation

• Before reading the article, lead a discussion asking students to brainstorm how they would go about weighing all of the trees in a forest.
• Encourage students to examine why accurate scientific data about an ecosystem could be helpful in sparking formalized protection and conservation.
• Consider having students propose other examples of ways that habitats in their local area could be valued or assessed to help spur conservation.
• Biology students could use this new information to connect to lessons about deforestation, carbon sequestration and storage, photosynthesis, the global carbon cycle, and the ecological importance of forests to the water cycle, water quality, air quality, and biodiversity.
  

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