"Unlocking the Carbon Potential of Natural Forests: A Global Assessment"
An integrated global assessment of natural forest carbon potential reveals that current forest carbon stocks are 328 Gt lower than their full natural potential. The study combines ground-sourced and satellite-derived models to estimate the potential biomass of forests worldwide. The analysis shows that 61% of the carbon potential lies in existing forests, highlighting the importance of forest conservation and restoration in mitigating climate change. The study also identifies spatial variations and uncertainties in the models, emphasizing the need for more ground-sourced data from tropical regions. Overall, the findings underscore the significance of sustainable forest management in achieving climate targets and enhancing carbon sequestration.