World’s Tropical Forests Are Getting Younger And That's Actually a Major Problem for the Climate

World’s Tropical Forests are Getting Younger And That's Actually a Major Problem for the Climate

New research quantifying the global impact of forest age transitions found that 140 million tons of aboveground carbon are lost per year because of old-growth forests being replaced by younger stands.

Old Forests in the Tropics Are Getting Younger and Losing Carbon

The towering trees of old forests store massive amounts of carbon in their trunks, branches, and leaves. When these ancient giants are replaced by a younger cohort after logging, wildfire, or other disturbances, much of this carbon stock is lost. “We wanted to actually quantify what it means if an old forest becomes young.” “We’ve known for a long time that forest age is a key component of the carbon cycle,” said Simon Besnard, a remote sensing …