Reforestation may lower mitigation

[wolfhnd]

Norman, Okla.—Scientists at the University of Oklahoma and the Fudan University in Shanghai, China, have found that reforestation and afforestation -- the creation of new forests -- may lower the potential of forests for climate change lessening.

Yiqi Luo, professor of ecology in the OU College of Arts and Sciences Department of Botany and Microbiology, and Changzhang Liao, Bo Li and Changming Fang, professors of ecology in the Fudon University Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, examined whether plantations have the same ecosystem carbon stock as natural forests.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/ ... 052810.php

[CanadysPeak]

I appreciate the research, but most everyone in any of the eastern hardwood forests which were clearcut in the 1880-1930 period already thought this pretty surefire. The difference is startling between new growth and the few remaining patches of old growth. We still find pieces of old growth walnut, half-rotted, often burned, that are stronger and harder than any new growth oak. Even the species diversity differences are striking.