I refer to the "carbon fund", about 1 million euros, used to create carbon offset measures, ie capturing some of the CO2 that we pump into the atmosphere every day. Not that I am opposed to that in principle, but some of the money is being spent on planting trees to capture carbon dioxide. Creating "carbon sinks" is possible. 1 hectare of woods traps up to 37 tonnes of CO2. So since 2011 the region has supported 103 schemes to improve or create carbon sinks. Also the agroforestry industry is being encouraged to plant trees in former pasture or crop fields.
So why am I "en colere"? Because there seems to be no control of the firewood industry. Loggers devastate whole hillsides, changing the landscapes, without replanting, or managing the woods they have cut. It is they who should be paying to create the carbon sinks and making a sustainable forestry industry, not just profiting from the high energy prices to leave whole areas devastated for the next 20 years.
Malcolm Johnstone
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