Published by Todd Bush on July 31, 2023
Managed forests are a critical tool for fighting climate change and preventing catastrophic wildfires.
OLYMPIA, Wash., July 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- WFPA says scientists are warning that U.S. forests are being destroyed by wildfire and losing their ability to absorb carbon as they become older, according to a new U.S. Department of Agriculture report.
"Healthy, managed forests, with vigorously growing trees, remove carbon from the atmosphere while simultaneously helping to prevent forest fires from becoming catastrophic," said Jason Spadaro, WFPA executive director. "Data shows that unmanaged forests remove carbon slower and experience three times the mortality, making them more vulnerable to catastrophic wildfire which can release millions of tons of CO2 into the atmosphere in just one fire event."
Spadaro noted that some counties in Washington are touting a hands-off approach to forest management, but they are not looking at the science and data. For example, in King County, the average age of all forests is 108 years old, and half of those forests are designated off-limits to forest management.
"According to the U.S. Forest Service's Forest Inventory and Analysis data, this has resulted in 29 million dead trees standing in King County alone, about 10 for every person in the county," said Spadaro. "Private landowners manage their forests responsibly for health and growth. In contrast, 70 percent of the annual growth in unmanaged federal forests statewide is dying due to decay and disease. To absorb more carbon, forests need to be healthy and growing and made less vulnerable to insects, disease, and wildfires. A hands-off approach is misguided and ultimately unhealthy for us all when forests burn catastrophically."
Trees use carbon dioxide from the air and turn carbon into solid wood, releasing oxygen in the process. Trees that grow faster store carbon faster. By responsibly harvesting slower-growing trees and replanting them with faster-growing trees, a forest's carbon-storing capacity is increased. The carbon in harvested trees remains in the wood throughout the product's lifespan, turning homes, furniture, infrastructure, and other timber products into carbon vaults. It is more important than ever to look at the facts about managed forests.
The Washington Forest Protection Association is a leading professional forestry association, dedicated to promoting sustainable forest management practices and protecting Washington State's valuable forest resources. WFPA represents private forest landowners growing and harvesting trees on about 4 million acres in Washington State.
SOURCE Washington Forest Protection Association
Follow the money flow of climate, technology, and energy investments to uncover new opportunities and jobs.
Inside This Issue 💧 Lummus and Advanced Ionics Establish Partnership for Green Hydrogen 🌫️ Capturing Carbon From the Air Just Got Easier 🏗️ Linde to Provide Carbon Capture Technology for Offshore ...
Inside This Issue 🌊 Microsoft Clinches Ocean-based Carbon Removal Deal With Ebb Carbon 🌱 New $5 Million DOE Award Supports KU Startup’s Green Hydrogen Energy Research ⚙️ Energy Vault EVx™ Gravity ...
Inside This Issue 🛠️ BHP, JSW Steel To Explore Use of Carbon Capture Technology in Steelmaking 🏝️ Exxon Mobil’s Landmark Acquisition for Offshore CO2 Capture: A Big Step Toward Carbon Reduction 🚗 ...
Aviva Launches Carbon Removal Fund
The fund aims to provide investors with access to a range of carbon removal projects, at a time when governments are waking up to the scale of work required to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement...
Lummus and Advanced Ionics Establish Partnership for Green Hydrogen
Partnership will advance production of cost-effective and sustainable green hydrogen technology HOUSTON, Nov. 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Lummus Technology, a global provider of process technologies a...
Capturing Carbon From the Air Just Got Easier
A new type of porous material called a covalent organic framework quickly sucks up carbon dioxide from ambient air Capturing and storing the carbon dioxide humans produce is key to lowering atmosp...
Linde to Provide Carbon Capture Technology for Offshore ADNOC Project
Linde Engineering has signed an agreement with NEXTCHEM to provide carbon capture technology to Abu Dhabi National Oil Company’s (ADNOC) Hail and Ghasha project. Located in the United Arab Emirates...
Follow the money flow of climate, technology, and energy investments to uncover new opportunities and jobs.