The Iroko trees of West Africa have an unusual ability: when treated with microbes they can convert carbon dioxide emissions into soil-enriching limestone which is then stored in the soil around the trees’ roots.

An article on the website of the Worldwatch Institute explains how this means the trees can not only remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere but also make dry, acidic soil more fertile for agriculture.

Carbon stored in limestone can remain for perhaps a million years, says the article, making Iroko trees a significant carbon sink.

“By taking advantage of this natural limestone-producing process, we have a low-tech, safe, readily employed and easily maintained way to lock carbon out of the atmosphere, while enriching farming conditions in tropical countries,” said Dr Bryne Ngwenya of the University of Edinburgh’s School of GeoSciences in the article.

The Iroko tree has a tough, dense and highly durable wood that has been so sought after that the trees are now endangered in many parts of Africa. It is hoped that this discovery will bolster reforestation schemes that involve the use of microbes and Iroko trees together to sequester carbon, improve soil fertility, and promote agroforestry projects of benefit to rural communities.

Read the full story: Iroko Trees Fight Climate Change