The Carbon CycleSustainable forest management can play a significant role in global greenhouse gas mitigation efforts. That’s because forests convert atmospheric carbon dioxide to wood and pure oxygen they grow. In managed forests, such as Sierra Pacific Industries' (SPI), some of that wood is converted into wood products for consumers where the carbon can remain stored for long periods.
Overall, for the United States, the climate benefits provided by forests are substantial. Currently, it is estimated that U.S. forests sequester more than 10 percent of the industrial emissions of greenhouse gases. This equates to over 200 million metric tons of CO2 equivalents per year. Sierra Pacific Industries has conducted a peer-reviewed study examining the rate of carbon sequestration on its managed forest lands. That report concluded that our active forest management stores carbon at almost twice the rate of an unmanaged forest. This process of rapid carbon sequestration demonstrates another benefit of SPI’s active forest management. |
Responsible logging is possible,
even strengthens North America’s forests.
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