Forests sink carbon at large. The density of the forest has helped maintain regional levels in the face of deforestation, research from US and Europe says.
Increased density in Europe and North America significantly raised carbon storage in trees despite little or more expansion of forest area, a report of the University of Helsinki, Finland.
The more density in South American Nations helped maintain regional carbon level in the face of deforestation, reports the journal Public Library of Science.
The researchers conclude that managing forests for timber growth and density offers a way to increase stored carbon, even with little or no expansion of forest area.
According to Rautiainen, in 2004 emissions and removals of carbon dioxide from land use, land-use change and forestry comprised about one fifth of total emissions. The great role of density means that not only conservation of forest area but also managing denser, healthier forests can mitigate carbon emission.
Remote sensing by satellite of the world’s forest area brings access to remote places and a uniform method, says co-author Paul E. Waggoner, Connecticut’s Agricultural Experiment Station. However, to speak of carbon, we must look beyond measurements of area and apply forestry methods traditionally used to measure timber volumes.
Ultimately, forests are like cities – they can grow both by spreading and by becoming denser.
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