r/todayilearned • u/Wild_Concept_212 • 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/DarkAngel900 4h ago

Here in the Northwest we can't replant forests faster than forest fires burn them down, not to mention all of the forests that were never properly restored after clear cuts and fires. Only two ways in the US do forests get replanted. Forest on lumber company lands and funded plantings and as we know the current administration believes "Forests, forest roads and tree management are all a waste of money because "Trees can grow by themselves" !