Logging Boreal Forest Could Detonate Massive “Carbon Bomb,” Says Report

The boreral forests of Canada store more than 25 times carbon dioxide that is currently released in world’s annual fossil-fuel emissions, reports an article from the Canadian Press. “About 80 percent of the carbon is stored in the soil as dead organic matter. The rest is stored in the forest's evergreen trees, moss and peat.” Older trees tend to store more carbon than younger trees, according to the report from Greenpeace and the University of Toronto. “Forests continue emitting carbon up to 10 years after they've been logged as their remnants decompose and decay,” explained Christy Gerguson of Greenpeace. In rare agreement, Greenpeace and the Forest Products Association of Canada suggest that stopping all logging is unreasonable, but avoiding old-growth areas is advised. Allowing some controlled logging, combined with enforcement, could better protect the sensitive areas than complete abandonment. – YaleGlobal