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Our Keweenaw Forests as a Carbon Bank |
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Written by Charles Eshbach
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As we admire the beautiful colors of the fall and enjoy mile after mile of forests in the Upper Peninsula, do you wonder how all this fits in with the “Climate Change” we are witnessing? The larger question is whether the earth’s climate could be changing due to human activity? How do our Keweenaw forests figure in? Climate change has always been with us but, how much do our human activities play in this big puzzle? Some scientists are concerned that a slight increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere may be related to the increase in some types of human activity such as burning fossil fuels. Or is it related to the quality and amount of forest lands?
In order to understand this concern we need to understand the “Carbon Cycle”.
Carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere in many ways. As we breathe, our bodies absorb oxygen and release carbon dioxide. All animal and plant respiration releases carbon dioxide along with emissions from burning fossil fuels. So how does the earth recycle all this carbon dioxide?
Trees are one of the biggest filters. Trees capture carbon dioxide during photosynthesis and turn it into glucose, a carbohydrate. This glucose is the energy which builds the tree. Some of the carbohydrate glucose is sent to the roots. Some of the carbon dioxide is released back into the atmosphere from the trees leaves, roots and the soil. Trees then absorb, hold and release carbon. If you remove the water from the tree, half of the remaining weight is carbon. Our forests are huge carbon banks and play an important part in the carbon cycle.
Since 1990 there has been a slight decline worldwide in the amount of forests. If climate change is caused by the increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere then the amount and health of our forests is very important. The worldwide loss of natural forest actually contributes more to global carbon emissions than our transportation sector each year, so planting more trees and curbing deforestation is certainly a positive and cost-effective way of reducing emissions.
In the Keweenaw most of our forests are of the northern hardwood type, maple, birch, oak, and pine. We keep this forest healthy by selectively harvesting it every 20 years or so. This is a big part of our economy. When forest land owners get greedy for these valuable forest products and cut too heavily, our carbon dioxide filter is reduced. Proper care of our forests makes them healthy and sustainable, protecting biological diversity, producing valuable products, preserving our soil and water, and giving us a high quality of life.
Enjoy our beautiful forest in all their fall glory.
Trees
I THINK that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet earth’s flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
— Joyce Kilmer. 1886–1918 |
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