Growth, Harvest & Renewal

Young, vigorously growing trees have a higher rate of CO₂ conversion than mature trees. Trees typically grow in what is described as a sigmoid curve, with growth rate being greatest in the early to middle years, and dropping off as they reach maturity. In BC, this drop happens when the tree is between 60 and 150 years old (depending on the species and environmental factors).

When a tree is harvested, about half of the carbon stays in the forest and the rest is removed in the logs, which are then converted into forest products. Some carbon is released when the forest soil is disturbed during harvesting, and the roots, branches and leaves left behind release carbon as they decompose.

Once the harvested area is regenerated, either naturally or by planting seedlings, the forest once again begins to absorb and store carbon. This combination of harvest and re-growth, along with the fact that most wood products store carbon for long periods of time, means that harvesting practices have minimal impact on greenhouse gas emissions.