Oxford study finds planting new forests for carbon offset is ineffective and harms biodiversity.
New forests often replace natural ecosystems, leading to little overall benefit.
The study suggests conserving and restoring existing ecosystems is a better strategy.
Commercial tree plantations prioritize carbon but reduce biodiversity.
Tropical ecosystems provide valuable services like water quality and pollination.
Monoculture plantations support fewer species and can degrade ecosystems.
Grasslands and savannahs are already effective carbon sinks.
The current trend prioritizes carbon capture over ecological preservation.
Large-scale tree planting would require vast areas to offset emissions.
The focus on carbon capture projects may have negative trade-offs for biodiversity and ecosystem function.