Tag

Old Growth Forests

All articles tagged with #old growth forests

environment4 hours ago•12 min saved

Sweden's ancient forests harbor far more carbon than managed woodlands, study finds

A Swedish study mapped eight years of field data from old-growth lowland forests and compared them with managed forests using the national forest inventory, finding old-growth stores 78-89% more carbon in trees, dead wood, and soils, for a total 83% more carbon overall—most of it in soils. Even when harvested wood products are included, old-growth forests still store about 70% more carbon. The difference equates to roughly 1.5 times Sweden’s fossil-fuel emissions since 1834, underscoring the climate value of protecting old-growth forests and highlighting policy debates over definitions and protections for remaining stands in Europe.

via The Conversation|

#boreal-forests #carbon-storage #environment

environment2 years ago•2 min saved

Biden Administration Takes Action to Safeguard Old-Growth Forests from Climate Change and Threats

The Biden administration has announced new protections for old-growth forests in the United States, covering approximately 32 million acres of old growth and 80 million acres of mature forest. This initiative aims to make it more difficult to cut down these forests for lumber, recognizing their importance in combating climate change, providing habitat for wildlife, and preserving historical connections. The protected areas include old-growth sequoias and bristlecone pines in the West, as well as smaller forests on the East Coast. The plan tightens the approval process for logging and proposes restoration and protection plans for these areas.

via USA TODAY|

#biden-administration #climate-change #conservation

environment2 years ago•1 min saved

"Biden Administration's Bold Actions to Safeguard Old-Growth Forests and Combat Climate Change"

The Biden administration has proposed new measures to conserve and restore the nation's old-growth forests, aiming to combat greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change. The proposal seeks to amend forest land management plans across the country, with a focus on preserving and restoring old-growth and mature forests. These forests play a crucial role in absorbing carbon dioxide and are well-suited to store more carbon than younger forests. The initiative aligns with President Biden's Earth Day Executive Order and includes updating the Northwest Forest Plan to enhance climate resilience.

via CNN|

#biden-administration #carbon-sink #climate-change

environment2 years ago•4 min saved

"Biden Administration's Bold Steps to Safeguard Old-Growth Forests Amidst Climate Crisis"

The Biden administration is taking steps to protect old-growth forests in the U.S. from the threats posed by climate change, wildfires, insects, and disease. The proposal includes limiting commercial timber harvests in old-growth forests while allowing logging in mature forests. Old-growth forests are important for wildlife habitat and carbon storage. The move is seen as a step in the right direction by environmentalists, but the timber industry and some members of Congress have expressed skepticism. The proposal is expected to be completed by early 2025, but its durability may depend on the outcome of the 2024 presidential election.

via ABC News|

#biden-administration #climate-change #conservation

environment2 years ago•6 min saved

"Rare Discovery by Tree Hunter Sheds Light on Forest Conservation"

TJ Watt, a forest explorer and self-described "tree hunter," discovered a massive western red cedar tree standing 151 feet tall and 17.5 feet in diameter on Flores Island in Clayoquot Sound, British Columbia. Believed to be over 1,000 years old, the tree is one of the largest old-growth cedars ever documented in the region. Watt kept the tree's location a secret to protect it and sought input from the Ahousaht First Nation, who have lived in the area for thousands of years. The discovery highlights the importance of preserving old-growth forests, which have been heavily logged in the region.

via The Washington Post|

#ahousaht-first-nation #british-columbia #conservation

environment2 years ago•2 min saved

Trump-era Logging Rule Violates Laws, Judge Rules

A federal judge has ruled that a Trump-era rule change allowing the logging of old-growth forests in the Pacific Northwest violates multiple laws, including the National Environmental Policy Act, the National Forest Management Act, and the Endangered Species Act. The judge recommended that the U.S. Forest Service's environmental assessment be vacated and that a full environmental impact statement be prepared. The rule change, which went into effect in 2021, aimed to prioritize fire-tolerant species and make forests more resistant to disturbances like wildfires. However, environmental groups argued that the change did not adequately address scientific uncertainty and could increase fire severity. The Forest Service has two weeks to object to the judge's findings and recommendations.

via NPR|

#environment #environmental-impact #lawsuit

environment2 years ago•4 min saved

U.S. to implement climate protections for old-growth forests.

The Biden administration has identified over 175,000 square miles of old growth and mature forests on U.S. government land and plans to create a new rule to better protect the nation's woodlands from fires, insects, and other side effects of climate change. The forests are under increasing pressure as climate change worsens wildfires, drought, disease, and insects. Environmentalists hope the inventory and pending rule will lead to new restrictions on logging, while the timber industry and some members of Congress have urged the administration to concentrate on lessening wildfire dangers by thinning stands of trees.

via NPR|

#biden-administration #climate-change #environment