![]() Because the next decades are critical in addressing the climate emergency, and most New England forests are less than 100 years old, a major implication of this work is that maintaining and accumulating carbon in some existing forests-proforestation-is a powerful regional climate solution. Within this sample and species, our major findings complement and clarify previous findings and are threefold: (1) beyond 80 years, an intact eastern white pine forest can accumulate carbon above-ground in living trees at a high rate and double the carbon stored in this compartment in subsequent years (2) large trees dominate above-ground carbon and can continue to accumulate carbon (3) productive stands can continue to accumulate high amounts of carbon in live trees for well over 150 years. We addressed this directly within New England with long-term, accurate field measurements and volume modeling of individual trees and two stands of eastern white pines ( Pinaceae: Pinus strobus) and compared our results to models developed by the U.S. Some studies emphasize young, fast-growing trees and forests while others highlight carbon storage and accumulation in old trees and intact forests. Forests globally are an essential natural climate solution that accumulate carbon and reduce annual increases in atmospheric CO 2 by approximately 30%. The forests have regrown since farm abandonment, representing what is arguably the most successful regional reforestation on record and identified recently in the “Global Safety Net.” Temperate “old-growth” forest and remnant stands demonstrate that native tree species can live several hundred years and continue to add to forest biomass and structural and ecological complexity. Pre-settlement New England was heavily forested, with trees exceeding 2 m in diameter. 7Woodwell Climate Research Center, Falmouth, MA, United States.6The Fletcher School and Global Development and Environment Institute, Tufts University, Medford, MA, United States.5Harvard Forest (2018–2019), Petersham, MA, United States. ![]() 4Trinity College, Hartford, CT, United States.3Friends of Mohawk Trail State Forest, Florence, MA, United States.2Native Tree Society ( Florence, MA, United States.1American Forests National Champion Tree Program, Washington, DC, United States. ![]()
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