Terraforming Mars

[Romeo]

Mars has an atmosphere (a thin one) and polar ice caps. With scientific engineering, we could begin to grow plants there. Think of the benefits to Earth's forests if we could grow and harvest forests somewhere else! It would take a very long time, but why don't we start now?

[wildwood]

There is just not enough water on Mars to sustain any plants from Earth. The extreme temperature differences between night and day, and the lengths of the days would just not support our plants, let alone the seasonal differences.

It would be a lot cheaper and feasable to supply water to the vast deserts on Earth and plant forests there. In an ecologically very short time this would change the climate and encourage rain, so eventually being able to grow even vegetables there.

[boobesque]

or just stop cutting down the ones we already have

[Loosehead]

Even if Mars where covered in tropical rain forest now it would cost more in energy to go there and get it than we would obtain. Wildwood is correct it would be vastly easier to make our own infertile areas more fertile. Imagine if we could reliably irrigate the Sahara for example.