WORKING FORESTS. WINNING CLIMATE. FORESTS CAN WORK TO KEEP OUR PLANET COOL . IF WE WORK TO KEEP THEM STANDING STRONG. THE PACIFIC FOREST eeForest Loss is a Primary Cause of Global Warming The science is clear. Emissions from forest loss Global warming is here and and depletion are second only the impacts are being felt all to fossil fuels as the largest cover the planet. source of CO2 emissions. “Warming f the elmate system is An estimated 8 billion tons of CO2 unequivocal as is now evident from _are emitted into the atmosphere observations of increases in global from forest sources each year — average air and ocean temperatures, _ contributing almost 25% of global ‘widespread melting of snow and ie, CO? emissions. and rising global average sea eve" ‘hose hensess tte Deforestation is becoming ms Nag a major problem in the by Se Neches Stem Head Te nae rpe ne Pea ee Bs ASOT) OY SEN Ser Hea of Unieed States again eee One-third of US. forestlands have See ‘Changes to the forest been lost since our nation’s founding {ow ores e216" andseape are responsible Today, 4,000 acres 0 day are being for almost half of all CO2 buldozed for new development. emissions now causing the ‘And since the '90s,twice as much forestland is being lost to climate crisis. development than is farmland, The clearing of US. forests when cour country was being settled was The average USS. forest once a leading source of worldwide today holds much less CO? emissions. After a period of Gibon tates re-growth and relative stability, COz temissions from our forests are now rising again, historically and much less than it can naturally 200 years of forest activity and change have given us a forest landscape with sigficantly lower carbon stores. Existing US. forests have the ability to absorb and hold much more.Forests Can Work to Keep Our Climate Cool Forests store carbon ‘And they can hold that carbon for a very long time. Forests pull COn from the air and nsform it into wood through photosynthesis. managed for thei climate benefits, forests can stores of carbon and hold that carbon for hundreds of years into the future. To reduce dangerous CO2 levels and heal our climate, it is essential we sustain and restore America's forests in addition to switching to carbon neutral energy sources. By conserving our forests, we wil protect vast banks of carbon from being lost. By manoging our forests to restore higher carbon levels, forests wil take more CO2 out of the atmosphere n they already do today. By restoring forests where they used to exist higher levels of long-term carbon stores will be achieved 400 million acres of privately owned US. forests are ready to be put to work for our climate - today, We can reduce CO? emissions significantly create a more livable planet and be a worid climate leader by hamessing the power of our working forests Managing our forests to store more carbon is a “win-win” climate stategy. The same type of forest management that delivers climate benefits also helps us sustain vitally imporeant: + Watersheds + Fish and willfe habitat + Wood supplies and jobs Forests managed to restore higher carbon levels will be healthier, more resilient and better able to withstand the stresses of climate change Wood harvested from forests can provide additional climate benefits: + Forest products can continue to hold carbon for decades before decay and release. * Using wood products in construction, instead of COz intensive materials such as aluminum and steel, can reduce emissions + Excess small trees harvested from the thinning of over-crowded forests an provide carbon-neutral fuel for nergy production.