Ohio Department of Natural Resources is planning on allowing logging and prescribed burns in your state forest!
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry’s Management Plans for 2015 were just released, and just like in years past, includes commercial logging in State Forests across Ohio. This year the Nexus pipeline is proposed to carry fracked gas through Maumee State Forest, and the Division plans to burn thousands of acres – even in places that are enjoyed for recreation or provides habitat for rare species.
Ohio ranks 8th for particle pollution, which contributes to climate change and forests, are an important factor in our fight against climate change for multiple reasons. It is a well-known fact that trees absorb carbon dioxide, making forests one of our greatest assets in climate change mitigation. A paper published last year found that, forests, soil, and oceans absorb more than half of all carbon emissions from human activity. Without them, the amount of carbon in the atmosphere would be double.
Another study found that older trees can hold more carbon than younger, smaller trees. According to a paper published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, larger, older trees can intake more carbon than younger, smaller trees. So if the Department of Forestry commits to logging and prescribed burns, then not only are we putting carbon into the atmosphere during these processes, but we are altering the forests ability to absorb large amounts of carbon.
State forests, which account for only 1 % of Ohio’s land, provide not only an area for recreation and enjoyment, but a carbon sink for emissions. Every bit counts, especially when deforestation is a cause of climate change, and the process of burning and logging releases carbon pollution into the atmosphere. So do your part today and take action to protect Ohio’s forests!
Tell the Ohio Division of Forestry to manage our forests for climate change prevention and adaption!