Japanese Study Finds Much Less Carbon Absorption By Forests Than Thought - Yomiuri

[hatrack]

The amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by forests in 2005 was less than 80 percent of a target set as part of government measures to combat global warming and reduce greenhouses gases in line with the Kyoto Protocol, according to provisional government calculations announced Tuesday.

Signatories to the protocol have agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions during the period covering 2008-12 by an average of 5 percent from their 1990 levels. Under the rules for administering the protocol, forest management methods regarded as ways to cut emissions through absorption, such as thinning out forests or removing undergrowth, are required.

Many forests, however, remain rough and unmanaged, and their management is urgently required to meet protocol targets. The government has reported these calculations as supplementary information to the United Nations. The calculations made by the Environment Ministry are the first ever for forest absorption of CO2, in accordance with protocol rules.

According to the rules, the amount of CO2 that has to be absorbed by forests to be considered as a "reduction" is the equivalent of about 47.67 million tons. However, the calculations show that only 37.5 million tons was counted as being absorbed in "managed forests," much lower than expected.

EDIT

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20070531TDY04005.htm

[GliderGuider]

1. Well that's a nice change.

"Much less" is much better than "much more". Right?

[trotsky]

2. Assuming you're not being sarcastic here, no, this is a bad thing.

The forests are taking less carbon out of the atmosphere than was originally thought. Carbon in the atmosphere (in CO2) is one of the leading factors in global warming.

[GliderGuider]

4. Trust me, I'm being sarcastic

It seems that every environmental story we hear these days is how the models or the predictions have underestimated some aspect of the crisis. The running joke around here when one of these "scientists report that things are worse than we thought" stories is posted is to say, "Gee, that's new - I'd never heard that before." It struck me as amusing that a story would say we had overestimated something instead, while it was in fact the same old bad news... It was a weak joke, but you have to take your humour where you can find it in a situation like this.

[trotsky]

6. Hehe - you never want to assume!

I agree, if we can't try to laugh at some of this we're doomed.

[LSK]

3. how does thinning forests help absorb CO2?

At least they are starting to measure how much forests absorb.

[The2ndWheel]

5. Awww shucks, golly geewillikers

If we don't get life on this planet under our iron vice-like grip and quick, we're in a lot of trouble.