Forest Carbon
Photosynthesis allows forests to act as sinks that consume carbon dioxide and release oxygen. RFF experts offer insights into the land use challenges associated with forestry offsets, as well as the balance between forest coverage and biomass production that is needed to create carbon-neutral systems.
Forests and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Watch our event on carbon accounting and forest management.
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Media Highlight — Jan 13, 2021
Forests Can't Store Carbon If They're Overheated
In the magazine Atmos, RFF Senior Advisor Ann Bartuska comments on a study that shows predicting that our world's carbon sinks may become carbon sources.
Journal Article — Oct 29, 2020
Expansion of US Wood Pellet Industry Points to Positive Trends but the Need for Continued Monitoring
A first-of-its-kind study published in the journal Scientific Reports finds that wood produced in the southeastern United States for the EU’s renewable energy needs has a net positive effect on US forests—but that future industry expansion could warrant more research.
Press Release — Oct 29, 2020
Bound for the EU, American-Made Biomass Checks the Right Boxes
A first-of-its-kind study published in the journal Scientific Reports on Thursday finds that wood produced in the southeastern United States for the EU’s renewable energy needs has a net positive effect on US forests—but that future industry expansion could warrant more research.
Journal Article — Oct 29, 2020
Expansion of US Wood Pellet Industry Points to Positive Trends but the Need for Continued Monitoring
A first-of-its-kind study published in the journal Scientific Reports finds that wood produced in the southeastern United States for the EU’s renewable energy needs has a net positive effect on US forests—but that future industry expansion could warrant more research.
Journal Article — Jun 19, 2020
Climate-driven Risks to the Climate Mitigation Potential of Forests
New research finds that forests can best be deployed in the fight against climate change with a proper understanding of the risks they face.
Issue Brief — May 7, 2020
Tree Planting as Climate Policy?
Efforts to significantly expand the US forest carbon sink would benefit from a careful consideration of the nation’s history of tree planting and forest investment and the current structure of timber supply and demand.
Speeches & Presentations — Sep 1, 2020
Stanford Global Carbon Management Workshop
An invitation-only workshop exploring opportunities for global carbon management research
RFF Live — Jun 9, 2020
Managing Forests for Climate Mitigation—from Theory to Practice
An in-depth conversation on the practicalities of implementing natural climate solutions through forest management
RFF Live — Feb 11, 2020
Forests and Climate Change Mitigation: The Role of Markets
An in-depth conversation on the important role forests—and the forest products sector—could play in climate change mitigation
Media Highlight — Jan 13, 2021
Forests Can't Store Carbon If They're Overheated
In the magazine Atmos, RFF Senior Advisor Ann Bartuska comments on a study that shows predicting that our world's carbon sinks may become carbon sources.
Press Release — Oct 29, 2020
Bound for the EU, American-Made Biomass Checks the Right Boxes
A first-of-its-kind study published in the journal Scientific Reports on Thursday finds that wood produced in the southeastern United States for the EU’s renewable energy needs has a net positive effect on US forests—but that future industry expansion could warrant more research.
Press Release — Jun 19, 2020
Forests Can Be Powerful Climate Solutions—but Not without Risks
A new paper in Science finds policymakers must understand the threats forests face, or risk turning a powerful carbon sink into a carbon source.
Common Resources — May 7, 2020
Tree Planting, Land Use, and Forest Climate Benefits
The global Trillion Tree Initiative is helping to publicize the important role forests can play in mitigating climate change—but more needs to be done to incentivize private landowners to plant more trees.
Common Resources — Mar 11, 2020
Opportunities Ahead for Expanding Forests and Harnessing Bioenergy
As the global One Trillion Trees initiative attracts pivotal support, RFF’s Ann Bartuska, Dave Wear, and Robert Bonnie explain why utilizing forest bioenergy is more complicated than it might first appear.
Resources Radio — Aug 27, 2019
Finding a Future for Forests in Energy and Climate Solutions, with Robert Bonnie
Robert Bonnie and Daniel Raimi discuss forests, forest products and bioenergy, and deep decarbonization goals.