Analysis Shows American Forests Contain Enormous Carbon Reserves,
But Available Measuring Tools Reflect Gaps in Underlying Data
Report Highlights Importance of Protecting Existing Forests: Lower 48
States Alone Hold Carbon Reserves Equal to 20 Years of U.S. Greenhouse
Emissions.
For Immediate Release:
April 9, 2008
Contacts: –Ann Ingerson, M.S., Economic Research Associate,
TWS: 802-586-9625
–Dr. Jerry F. Franklin, Professor, College of Forest Resources,
University of Washington
–Bob Perschel, Northeast Region Director, Forest Guild: 508-756-4625
–Chris Mehl, Communications Director, TWS: 406-581-4992
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A report released today by The Wilderness Society
emphasizes the enormous carbon reserves held by forests in the
contiguous states – roughly equivalent to more than 20 years of
current United States greenhouse gas emissions from industrial and
other sources. Across the U.S., public and protected forests
generally store the most carbon. The analysis also cautions that
existing carbon measurement tools have significant limitations due to
gaps in the underlying data: old growth forests, in particular, may
be undervalued.