Now, new research shows that one of the planet's largest and most important carbon sinks, the forests of northern Eurasia, may be pulling in carbon at a slower rate than in the past. (scientificamerican.com)
Tropical forests are especially important because, even though they cover only 7 percent of the Earth's surface, they contain the largest vegetation carbon stocks, and are also important carbon sinks. (newscenter.lbl.gov)
«Releasing this carbon into the atmosphere through continuing deforestation not only commits us to the worst impacts of climate change, but also results in the loss of a globally important carbon sink,» said Martin Herold, professor of geoinformation science and remote sensing at Wageningen University in the Netherlands (climatenewsnetwork.net)