Scientists Create Natural Tree Growth Acceleration Method
- Editor OGN Daily
- Apr 30
- 1 min read
A breakthrough in tree growth acceleration could transform how we fight climate change through reforestation.
The Arbor Day Foundation has invested in technology that restores beneficial fungi to forest soils, potentially removing millions of tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere over the next decade by helping trees grow stronger and faster.
The tree growth acceleration technology - potentially boosting forest growth by 30 percent - has been developed by Funga PBC, and works by returning native fungal communities to tree roots before planting. These essential fungi were naturally present in forest soils but have vanished due to modern land management practices.
Scientists know that trees and fungi form a vital partnership in healthy forests because fungi create vast underground networks of microscopic threads called mycelium around tree roots. These fungal networks help trees absorb water and crucial nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen from the soil.
In return, trees share up to 30 percent of the sugars they make through photosynthesis with their fungal partners. This exchange has evolved over millions of years, creating what scientists call a “mycorrhizal network”. These networks connect trees of different species, allowing them to share resources. Older, larger trees often support younger saplings through these fungal connections.
The accelerated tree growth has significant implications for fighting climate change. According to Funga’s field trials, forests with restored fungal communities can capture up to 40 percent more carbon dioxide annually compared to conventional plantings.
“Funga’s method could create planet-shaping impact,” says Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation.
