Carbon Accounting: Measuring the Contribution of Forests to Solving the Climate Change Problem

Global climate change is a hotly debated topic worldwide. It has many facets - environmental, societal, economic, and political - at many levels, from international, national, and regional to community and personal. And it raises serious concerns about the future of the world and humanity. Increased burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas) since the Industrial Revolution has resulted in increased levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. Because of this, more of the sun's heat reflected by the earth can no longer escape from the atmosphere into space but is bounced back, giving rise to the increased atmospheric temperatures of the greenhouse effect. This climate warming is now especially evident in the polar region and boreal forests, with melting glaciers and the permafrost, which could bring about sea-level rising and methane release. Insect outbreaks and wildfires are also on the rise from warmer temperatures, longer growing seasons, and droughts.

View the Spring 2008 Research Review (0.7 MB PDF)

For more information contact

Rebecca Nisley 
Newsletter Editor 
USDA Forest Service - Northern Research Station 
51 Mill Pond Road 
Hamden, CT 06514

203-230-4338