I think we have all been taught in science classes that trees and plants store carbon. But what was never explained is that when those trees are cut, that carbon is released, and in some cases that carbon release can last up to 10 years after logging!
This study offers ideas on how to reduce the carbon emissions (pre-plan trails and tree extraction directions, which can help minimize soil disturbances for example), but it is a warning of how dire the situation is for the world’s rainforests and the globe’s ability to store carbon emissions.
The unlogged forests the team measured were either carbon-neutral or small carbon sinks. But the areas that had been logged recently were actually carbon sources—they emitted more carbon than they stored, despite the new trees growing back.
https://gizmodo.com/logged-forests-emit-carbon-for-years-1850013649
unknownx500
