A recent study by researchers found that Colorado’s 22.8 million acres of forests are emitting more carbon into the atmosphere than they are absorbing, contrary to the state’s initial report. The study tracked carbon levels in various components of the forest ecosystem, including trees, soil, and dead trees, over a 17-year period. The researchers found that disease and insects, such as bark beetles, were the main culprits behind the increased carbon emissions. The study also noted that wildfires, drought, and development contributed to the negative carbon balance.
However, the study’s lead author, Tony Vorster, emphasized that the findings should be viewed in context. He noted that forests can be net carbon sinks or sources depending on factors such as location, tree type, and disturbance levels. The study’s results suggest that some counties, such as Gunnison, act as carbon sinks, while others, like Larimer, do not.
The researchers hope that their findings will inform forest management practices and carbon mitigation strategies. However, Vorster acknowledged that large-scale changes are difficult to implement, and instead, encouraged focusing on smaller-scale, local efforts to promote forest carbon storage. The Colorado State Forest Service is currently developing a “forest carbon co-benefits framework” to provide recommendations for forest management practices that prioritize carbon sequestration.