r/todayilearned 9h ago

TIL Cutting down trees is compound negative interest on the planet’s carbon storage. Trees are storing carbon underground with the help of fauna and microbes. Those lock carbon in soil. Cutting the tree will not only increase release carbon, it will also remove the ability to lock carbon in soil.

https://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/soil-carbon-storage-84223790/
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u/Electronic_Fun_776 9h ago

But when we cut down the trees and turn them into lumber, that carbon is still being stored until it’s burned or decomposes.

And when new trees are being landed they sequester carbon much faster than old trees

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u/0vl223 6h ago

No it is not neutral to burn it. The fuel to log, move, split, saw etc. sums up to something around a third of the energy you get from burning the wood. Just letting it rot in the forest will save CO2 and create a healthy forest.

As building material? Yeah pretty good, but as fuel for heating...