Yes, it’s astonishing to think that nature took 60 million years to develop bacteria capable of breaking down trees. This remarkable process unfolded during the Carboniferous Era, which spanned from approximately 359.2 to 299 million years ago.

During this era, vast forests of towering trees and dense swampy vegetation covered the landscape. However, despite the abundance of plant life, microscopic organisms specializing in decomposing wood have yet to evolve. Consequently, their organic matter wasn’t efficiently broken down when trees fell and died. Instead, it accumulated over time, gradually forming thick layers of peat.

This accumulation of organic material persisted for millions of years, eventually transforming intense pressure and heat. This process, known as coalification, gradually converted the peat into coal.

One theory proposes that there was a significant gap of around 60 million years between the widespread growth of forests around 360 million years ago and the emergence of microorganisms and fungi capable of efficiently digesting wood. During this lengthy period, as fallen trees accumulated without rapid decomposition, the conditions for coal formation were idealized.

However, Mother Nature seems to have provided us with abundant fossil fuels, which have powered our civilization and fueled our way of life for centuries. However, this seemingly endless supply of energy comes with significant consequences for the environment.

The key to this dilemma lies in the fact that lignin-eating microbes and fungi were not prevalent for millions of years, allowing organic matter such as wood to accumulate and eventually transform into coal and oil. This process provided us with a valuable source of energy, but it also trapped carbon underground, regulating the Earth’s climate and maintaining the delicate balance necessary for life to thrive.

Background

Around 300 million years ago, during the Carboniferous Era, the atmosphere contained much higher carbon dioxide levels. This abundance of CO2 was beneficial for plant life, as it is a vital component of photosynthesis. The increased CO2 levels contributed to a warmer climate, fostering the growth of vast forests and lush vegetation.

Over millions of years, these plants absorbed carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as they grew, storing it within their tissues. When these plants died, their organic matter accumulated and eventually became buried under layers of sediment. Without efficient decomposition, due to the absence of wood-digesting fungi at the time, this organic material was transformed into coal and oil through geological processes over millions of years.