"The Forgotten Threat: Earth's Trees Pose a Troubling Danger"
A new report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture predicts that forests' ability to absorb carbon will significantly decrease after 2025, potentially making them a significant source of carbon emissions by 2070. Natural disasters like wildfires, hurricanes, and tornadoes, along with development in forested areas, are disrupting forest ecosystems and reducing their carbon absorption capacity. Forests currently absorb 11% of harmful carbon pollution in the U.S., but if this ability is lost, it will contribute to increased emissions. Forests also release stored carbon when they are cut down or burned. Aggressive forest management is needed to save our forests and promote better carbon storage.