crucial role

The world’s forests play a crucial role in taking carbon out of the atmosphere and mitigating the effects of climate change. An analysis of U.S. national forests shows that two southern Alaskan forests are key to meeting climate and biodiversity goals.

The Tongass Forest in Alaska is America’s largest national forest, encompassing 16.7 million acres. Alaska’s Chugach Forest is the country’s second largest at just under 7 million acres. These two forests are not only the largest national forests, they are also the most intact.

A study by researchers at the Oregon State University College of Forestry looked at 152 national forests and compared them in terms of carbon density and accumulation, total biomass carbon stocks, habitat for eagles, bears, and wolves, and landscape integrity – which is the extent of modification by human activity. According to the study, almost 31% of all high-landscape-integrity area found in national forests is in the Tongass and Chugach forests. The Tongass alone represents over 25%.

These forests are cool and wet. Their carbon stocks are only minimally affected by wildfire, unlike many other forests in the lower 48 states. Given the size and stability of the two forests, protecting them is a high priority for making it possible to meet global goals relating to climate and diversity of species.

Ecosystems remove about 30% of all the carbon dioxide humans put into the atmosphere and intact forests with high carbon density do most of that work. Protecting Alaska’s forests is crucial.

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Southern Alaska’s national forests key to meeting climate, conservation goals, OSU study shows

Photo, posted August 4, 2014, courtesy of Jeff Canon via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio

All plants, including algae and cyanobacteria, carry out photosynthesis. During the process of photosynthesis, plants remove carbon dioxide from the air and release oxygen to the air. As a result, plants play a crucial role in the fight against climate change.

According to a new study recently published in the journal Nature Geoscience, mosses – those tiny plants often found on the ground or rocks – might be important antidotes to climate change. The study, which was led by scientists from the University of New South Wales in Australia and the Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology in Spain, uncovered evidence that mosses have the potential to store a massive amount of carbon in the soil beneath them.

The researchers found that mosses sequester around seven billion tons more carbon in the soil than is stored in the bare patches of soil typically found near them. To put that figure in perspective, that is six times the annual global carbon emissions caused by global land use change, which includes things like deforestation, urbanization, and mining. The researchers also found that moss-covered soil possessed heightened levels of vital nutrients and fewer instances of soil-borne plant pathogens on average compared to moss-less soil.

Mosses cover an area of more than 3.6 million square miles, which is similar in size to Canada, and can thrive in challenging environments. The widespread presence and hardiness of mosses is why they can have such a significant impact on soil biodiversity and carbon sequestration.

The research team hopes future work will focus on understanding the role of all types of vegetation, not just mosses and trees, in capturing carbon.

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Study: Modest moss supports billions of tons of carbon storage

Photo, posted August 23, 2017, courtesy of Peter Handke via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio

The importance of Alaska’s National Forests

The world’s forests play a crucial role in taking carbon out of the atmosphere and mitigating the effects of climate change. An analysis of U.S. national forests shows that two southern Alaskan forests are key to meeting climate and biodiversity goals.

Web Links

Moss And Carbon Storage | Earth Wise

All plants, including algae and cyanobacteria, carry out photosynthesis. During the process of photosynthesis, plants remove carbon dioxide from the air and release oxygen to the air. As a result, plants play a crucial role in the fight against climate change.

Web Links