Forest carbon sinks under pressure
Topics
forests, carbon sinks, clear-cutting, droughts, forest fires, old forests, biodiversity
Key messages
► The EU's total forest carbon sink decreased by nearly a third between 2010 and 2020. This decrease is attributed to increased harvests and natural ageing of the forests.
► Climate change creates new threats for forests. Fires, droughts, insects and other disturbances diminish the forests’ ability to take up and store carbon.
► Clear-cutting turns a forest into a carbon source. It can take up to 15 years until the forest becomes a sink again, and 20-40 years until initial emissions are compensated for.
► Old forests are vital for carbon storage and biodiversity. The last remaining old forests in the EU should be protected immediately.
► Forest carbon sinks should not be used as an excuse for watering down ambitions of emission reductions. Reducing the use of fossil fuels is still by far the most impactful action to mitigate against the climate crisis.
► Climate change creates new threats for forests. Fires, droughts, insects and other disturbances diminish the forests’ ability to take up and store carbon.
► Clear-cutting turns a forest into a carbon source. It can take up to 15 years until the forest becomes a sink again, and 20-40 years until initial emissions are compensated for.
► Old forests are vital for carbon storage and biodiversity. The last remaining old forests in the EU should be protected immediately.
► Forest carbon sinks should not be used as an excuse for watering down ambitions of emission reductions. Reducing the use of fossil fuels is still by far the most impactful action to mitigate against the climate crisis.
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As a natural carbon sink, forests are central to our fight against climate change. At the same time, forests are under immense pressure, from increasing harvest demands to natural disturbances associated with the warming climate. What can be done to increase the forest carbon sink?
