We are living in an age of rapid technological advancement, so much so that it’s often unclear as to whether technology is helping or hindering our daily lives.
A lot of people argue that technology is inherently destructive and is the main contributor to environmental issues. However, others are using technology to help reverse the effects of climate change. Wild, right?
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In September 2018, a company in Myanmar began an environmental project that involved the use of drones.
I know—it seems odd. How can something used for so much destruction also be used to restore our environment?
Last year, Biocarbon Engineering sent out drone prototypes to fire ‘seed missiles’ in order to plant trees in remote areas of the country in a more efficient way.
Now, those seeds have grown into 20-inch tall tree saplings.
Despite heavy public criticism, the project has been more than a success.
“We now have a case confirmed of what species we can plant and in what conditions,” Biocarbon Engineering founder Irina Fedorenko, told Fast Company , “We are now ready to scale up our planting and replicate this success.”
With just two drone operators, the drones can plant upwards of 400,000 trees per day.
We’re talking big numbers here, big enough numbers to make a substantial push back against the climate change crises. Their goal is to plant more than 1 Billion trees in total.
The efficiency of the drones is something to be marveled at.
For reference, it took the Worldview Foundation 7 years to plant 6 million trees in Myanmar, and with these drones, the company is hoping to plant another 4 million before 2019 is up.
Myanmar is a particularly good area for this kind of study.
Rising sea levels due to climate change have greatly affected the country’s population in recent years.
In addition to helping C02 levels, new trees also solidify soil, which helps with soil erosion caused by these rising sea levels.
Watch the drones in action for yourself.
Though it is true that certain technological advances have accelerated the rate at which our planet is affected by climate change, there is no reason why we can’t use these advances to enact positive change and help reverse the effects of climate change.
h/t: Upworthy
