A recent report by the Agriculture Department has made an alarming revelation: by 2070, US forests may switch roles from being carbon absorbers to significant carbon emitters. This shift is due to the increasing destruction from natural disasters and the aging of forests, which is reducing their carbon-absorbing capabilities.

 

At present, US forests gulp down 11 percent of the country’s carbon emissions, amounting to 150 million metric tons of carbon per year. This is akin to the combined emissions of 40 coal power plants. However, the report warns that this carbon absorption could start nosediving in 2025. Forests could start emitting up to 100 million metric tons of carbon a year, as decaying trees release more carbon than is absorbed by the forest.

 

This grim projection indicates that the US needs to double down on its efforts to achieve net zero emissions. As Lynn Riley from the American Forest Foundation puts it, “If we lose forests as a tool to absorb carbon, the US will contribute that much more in emissions.”

 

The reduction in carbon absorption is partly due to natural disasters such as wildfires, hurricanes, and tornadoes, which are becoming more frequent and potent with rising global temperatures. These disasters ravage forestlands, disrupt ecosystems, and curtail their ability to soak up carbon. Furthermore, human development in forest areas and the aging of US forests are also impacting their carbon absorption capacities.

 

Senior manager Riley suggests adopting a more aggressive approach towards forest management. This can involve making way for younger, more carbon-absorbent trees by selectively cutting down a small portion of aging trees. She likens forest management to prescribing the right drugs to a patient, emphasizing the need for detailed study before removing older trees.

 

With a combination of climate change mitigation efforts and intelligent forest management, we can hope to preserve our forests’ vital role as carbon absorbers, helping us combat the escalating climate crisis. (onegreenplanet.org)