“Impacts of California Wildfires on Climate and Forests,” a study by Dr. Thomas M. Bonnicksen, Professor Emeritus of Forest Science at Texas A&M University, released recently chronicles how California wildfires from 2001 to 2007 seriously degraded the forests and contributed to global warming. Emissions from these wildfires are equivalent to adding an estimated 50 million more cars onto our highways for one year. To offset this damage, all 14 million cars in California would have to be locked in garages for 3½ years.
Harvesting dead trees to prevent them from releasing CO2 from decay, storing the carbon they contain in long-lasting wood products, and using the money from the sale of the wood to replant a young forest that absorbs CO2, is the only way to restore deforested areas and recover this greenhouse gas from the atmosphere. The report emphasizes that every effort must be made to reduce the amount of fuel in public and private forests to prevent catastrophic wildfires. Major constraints to managing and thinning private forests are government regulations and the high cost of Timber Harvest Plans (THPs).
For a copy of the full report please visit http://westinstenv.org/ffsci/2009/08/24/impacts-of-california-wildfires-on-climates-and-forests-a-study-of-seven-years-of-wildfires-2001-2007/ Western Institute for Study of the Environment W.I.S.E.
Contact Dr. Thomas M. Bonnicksen at 407-831-3269.