WHO OVP w 12345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678 2 78901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234 CoO, And You (NAPSA)—Here’s good news, for a change, about our environment: Results from controlled studies around the world show how a doubling of carbon dioxide (CO.) in the atmosphere, which is expected to occur over the next century, will increase crop yields by 30 to 40 percent, double the water-use efficiency of most of earth’s vegetation and could triple the productivity of forests. The level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is increasing— from about 270 parts per million before 1800, to about 365 now, to an estimated doubling to 720 or more within the next 160 years. Only about twenty-five food crops stand between humans worldwide and starvation. Increasing the CO, level from the current level to two times what we have today would basically increase plantyields. KOK “Inereased levels of CO, have another consequence,” says Park S. Nobel, the head of the Department of Biology at the University of California—Los Angeles. “In particular they can improve the water-use efficiency of plants.” va i | Oniy about 25 food crops stand between humans worldwide and starvation. level makes it easier for CO, to go into the plants so the pores— called stomates—-don’t have ta open as widely. When the pores aren't open as widely, it’s more difficult for water to come out.” There’s actually less water Joss per unit of carbon that’s being taken up into the plant. Asa result of that, water-use efficiency goes up. "ok ck that’s used by plants to produce You can learn more about COQ, in our atmosphere and what it may mean for our food and our future from the experts at the Greening Harth Society, a not-forprofit, grass roots organization of people who believe humans are a ally decreases with increased CO,. “When we have the elevated CO, the higher atrnospheric CO, nature. It can be found online at www. egreeningearthsociety.org or you can call 800-529-4508. That is, the amount of water the same amount of growth actu- part of nature, not apart from
