The Crucial Role of Old-Growth Forests in Climate Change Mitigation

In the wake of growing concerns about climate change, the WWF's recent report sheds light on the invaluable role played by mature and old-growth forests in mitigating carbon emissions. These ancient ecosystems, housing larger trees than their younger counterparts, act as formidable carbon sinks, slowing down global temperature increases. Despite commendable steps taken by the Biden administration to conserve these forests, a lingering air of skepticism prevails.

The Biden administration's executive order in 2021 set ambitious goals for conserving U.S. lands, recognizing the significance of old-growth forests. More recently, the U.S. Forest Service proposed amendments to management plans for national forests, aiming to enhance protection for mature and old-growth stands. While these actions are steps in the right direction, they are not without their critics.

The report raises concerns about the existing forest management plans, which permit logging of old, large trees while awaiting regulatory changes. Logging, often underestimated in its environmental impact, is a significant contributor to carbon loss, even surpassing the effects of wildfires and pest infestations. Research indicates that between 2003 and 2012, logging accounted for half of the total aboveground tree carbon loss in 11 western U.S. states.

Moreover, federal lands, designated for various purposes like biodiversity protection, recreation, and timber production, face challenges in balancing conflicting interests. Legal mandates to manage land for multiple uses often fall short of considering climate change implications. Despite the directive for federal agencies to factor in climate change science, logging projects on public land continue to operate without comprehensive climate analysis.

A critical point of contention emerges from the fact that only 20% of high-carbon forests in the western U.S. are shielded from logging and mining. A significant portion of mature and old-growth forests on federal lands remains vulnerable, with 76% facing the risk of logging. This not only releases vast amounts of carbon into the atmosphere but also jeopardizes the habitats of endangered species.

The urgency to cease logging in these crucial ecosystems is underlined by the report's emphasis on the low-cost and effective nature of forest conservation in managing atmospheric carbon. Allowing mature and old-growth forests to thrive is a direct and practical method of removing and storing atmospheric carbon, presenting an immediate solution to the climate crisis. As the report concludes, the sooner logging in these forests halts, the greater the climate protection they can afford in the critical decades ahead.

Read more here