Slowing the increase of atmospheric carbon dioxide: A biological approach

Planting trees to act as carbon sinks has been suggested as a way to slow the increase of atmospheric CO₂. Forestry growth and yield models were used to estimate that it would take 192 million hectares of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) or 250 million hectares of Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) to capture and store the United States' anthropogenic carbon emissions for an assumed period of 50 yr, at current emission rates. Although maximum growth rates are similar for both species, Douglas-fir requires less area because of its greater ability to store carbon, and its ability to maintain a high growth rate for a longer period of time. The usefulness of a particular species also depends in part on the length of the planning horizon and the forestry project. For periods of 50 or more years, it is important to consider a species' cumulative carbon storage potential rather than its potential maximum growth rate at some point during its life cycle. Forestation (reforestation and afforestation) appears to be feasible as a possible component of a comprehensive strategy for managing the CO₂ problem, but it must be practiced globally to be effective.The research described in this article has been funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This document has been prepared at the EPA Environmental Research Laboratory. in Corvallis, Oregon, through contract number 68-C8-0006 to NSI Technology Inc. It has been subjected to the Agency's peer and administrative review and approved for publication. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement of recommendation for use.