Forest Carbon: An Essential Natural Solution for Climate Change
Abstract
Climate change can seem like an overwhelming challenge, and it can be difficult to find meaningful ways to make a difference. The good news is that as a forest landowner, or as someone who helps to steward forests, you can have a significant impact on climate change through the land-use decisions you make—specifically your decisions about the future use and management of your forest. These land-use decisions play a regionally and globally important role in reducing the effects of climate change. Forests are, in fact, an essential natural solution to climate change.
Many landowners have begun to ask how their forest management strategy affects the carbon within their forest and thus the forest's ability to mitigate climate change. Every strategy has its tradeoffs; therefore, to meet all of society's needs, we will ultimately need a mix of passive and active strategies across the region.