Forest data yields better analysis of forests

Feb. 1, 2012 – In a study in Nature Climate Change, different
forests were analyzed for their ability to sequester carbon, and used to
predict what would happen if they disappeared.

According to an article published in Forbes, the study used different methodology than others, and came up with data that was significantly different that other previous studies.

"Yesterday’s study estimated that tropical forests in the Americas store
around 118 billion tons of carbon, a fifth more than indicated by the
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ 2010 Forest Resource Assessment study."

Using this data as a guideline, the researchers notes that it was possible that previous studies did not properly calculate the amount of carbon that was released into the atmosphere by deforestation.

"Previous estimates used ‘average’ biomass densities that may have
biased emissions’ estimates. This study used both biomass density and
deforestation to assign what the researchers believe to be a more
representative carbon density to the forests cleared."

For more information, please read the entire article here.