Carbon Storage: Planting Trees vs. Protecting Old Forests
Provided by: The Kid Should See This|Published on: July 21, 2022|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Type: Articles/Websites
Subjects: Biology
Authors: The Kid Should See This, PBS Terra
Location: Earth
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This video and article explains research indicating that old growth forests are more effective at storing carbon than young forests.
- The researcher advocates for protecting forests with the oldest trees, to serve as carbon storage reserves to help combat climate change.
- The video describes why newly planted trees are often a carbon source due to respiration and soil activity, whereas old growth forests serve to store carbon with their dense canopy of photosynthesizing leaves.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This video uncovers an interesting perspective on why protecting old forests is more effective at storing carbon in the short-term, compared to planting trees.
- Many students may not have conceptualized that trees respire and emit carbon dioxide, which can be enlightening for them.
- The video features a female researcher that describes how data can help inform decisions related to climate change and protecting ecosystems.
- Additional resources and links are provided at the bottom of the webpage to help students explore the topic.
Additional Prerequisites
- Students should have a basic understanding of a carbon budget, including the terms carbon storage, respiration, and photosynthesis.
Differentiation
- Consider having students make predictions of whether planting a young forest or protecting an old forest is more effective in combating climate change before watching the video.
- A graphic organizer detailing a forest's carbon budget, or a visual of the carbon cycle could be helpful for students as they view this video.
- Biology students could connect this resource to lessons about cellular respiration, photosynthesis, ecosystems, energy transfers in trophic levels, and metabolism.
- Additional resources that pair well with this video are Why Does This Scientist Shoot Lasers at Trees and the Global Forest Watch Interactive Map.
This is a study that measures actual carbon fluctuations in the forests, it compares CO2 sequestration capacity between young and mature or old forests. Evidence shows that mature forest sequester more CO2 than new or young forests. Microbes beneath the soil respire CO2 into the atmosphere and this adds up to the net CO2 sources. Using forests as a carbon removal strategy becomes feasible when forests are above 20 years or older. This resource is ideal for the classroom.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
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