Despite facing regional threats such as deforestation and forest fires, the world's forests remain a powerful weapon in the fight against climate change. A new study reveals that these vital ecosystems have consistently absorbed carbon dioxide over the past three decades, even as disruption erodes their capacity.

Based on long-term ground measurements combined with remote sensing data, the study found that forests consume an average of 3.5 ± 0.4 billion metric tons of carbon per year, nearly half the carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels between 1990 and 2019. .

The study, titled "Sustained Global Carbon Sequestration in Forests," published in the journal Nature of July 18, 2024, emphasizes the decisive role of forests in mitigating climate change. The study further shows that deforestation and disturbances such as forest fires threaten this vital carbon store. (USDA Forest Service, more at phys.org)