A recent study revealed the significant impact of forest management on reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels. Researchers found that while growing forests initially absorb CO2, simply allowing forests to grow without harvesting them is not a sustainable solution for long-term CO2 removal.
The study analyzed data from USA National Forest Timberlands since the 1960s and found that while harvesting declined after 1986, forest mortality tripled and net growth declined by 55 percent. This imbalance led to a situation where dead trees stored more carbon than living trees could absorb. Additionally, the rate of forest growth in regions like western Washington began to slow over time due to tree mortality offsetting new growth.
However, the study suggests that sustainable forest management practices, including harvesting when forests reach maximum growth rates, can lead to continuous carbon removal and storage. For example, in a typical scenario in western Washington, sustainably managed forests absorbed approximately 45 tons of carbon per hectare by the year 2023. Harvested wood products stored significant amounts of carbon, further reducing atmospheric CO2.
Furthermore, the study highlights the importance of recycling wood from demolished structures, which avoids the need for new wood production and reduces carbon emissions from steel and concrete manufacturing. Additionally, using wood products instead of fossil fuel-intensive materials like steel and concrete can significantly reduce CO2 emissions.
Overall, the study concludes that sustainable forest management practices, coupled with recycling wood products and using wood instead of fossil fuel-intensive materials, can play a crucial role in mitigating climate change. These findings suggest that forests not only act as carbon sinks but also provide sustainable solutions for reducing CO2 emissions.