Forests and Oceans as Carbon Sinks

SOURCES: 1) The amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere has been increasing rapidly over the last few decades and continues to do so. 2) Historically, the trends in increase of carbon dioxide started in the late 1700's. This was the approximate time of the Industrial Revolution. At this time, the carbon dioxide concentration was around 270 ppm (pounds per million). Concentrations grew very slowly from this time until the twentieth century. But in the last century, especially …

…as there is a continuous forest cover on that land. NORWAY: Norway is using a strategy that consists of increasing biomass in managed forests. In the last century, biomass has doubled. Dynamic models are being created and determining sustainability. These dynamic models use optimal control theory from electrical engineering to estimate optimal harvest practices. These models show that cutting trees at a mature stage and selectively harvesting them optimizes ground biomass and also resource income.