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From problem to solution: 
wood’s sustainable journey

The cascading effects of beetle killed trees

In 2020, the California wildfires erased all the carbon savings accumulated in the state from 2003 through 2019. Billions of tons of CO 2 , alongside billions of dollars invested in greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction initiatives, were engulfedin a matter of months.

The cascading effects of  beetle killed trees

In 2020, the California wildfires erased all the carbon savings accumulated in the state from 2003 through 2019. Billions of tons of CO2 , alongside billions of dollars invested in greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction initiatives, were engulfed in a matter of months.

In 2020, the California wildfires erased all the carbon savings accumulated in the state from 2003 through 2019. Billions of tons of CO2 , alongside The past two decades have seen a dramatic increase in the acreage burned by wildfires in California, culminating in a staggering 4.2 million acres in 2020. This surge in wildfires has driven a significant rise in CO2 emissions, with 111.7 million metric tons released into the atmosphere in that year alone. As temperatures rise and climate change intensifies, a dangerous feedback loop is emerging—leading to larger burned areas, more frequent wildfires, and accelerated global warming. 

Research from the University of Chicago highlights the severity of this issue, revealing that the carbon dioxide emissions from California 2020 wildfires were nearly double the reductions achieved over the previous 16 years. In just one year, these emissions accounted for 30% of the state total greenhouse gas emissions and nearly half of its 2030 emissions target. The economic toll is equally alarming, with global damages estimated at over $7 billion, underscoring the urgent need to integrate wildfire emissions into climate policy.

 To address this growing threat, it is essential to increase investment in preventive measures such as enhanced forest management and stricter controls on development in fire-prone areas. The devastating wildfires of 2020 not only erased years of progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions but also underscored the critical importance of tackling wildfires as a central element of climate change mitigation efforts.billions of dollars invested in greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction initiatives, were engulfed in a matter of months.

When our forests are thriving, they become carbon “sinks”

“Across the 11 Western states, 6.3 billion dead trees now reverse their previous role as a carbon "sink." When alive, these trees absorbed an impressive 63M tons of CO2 annually. In their current state, however, these trees release a staggering 1.7B tons of CO2 back into the atmosphere each year.”

Denver Post

When our forests are thriving, they become carbon “sinks”, absorbing trillions of tons of CO2 from the atmosphere, and locking it away within the trees

he Mountain Pine Beetle, a native species, typically infests and kills pine trees, particularly lodgepole pine, by overwhelming the trees; defenses in large numbers. While these infestations are natural and cyclical, the current epidemic is unprecedented in its scale, largely exacerbated by climate change. Warmer temperatures and regional droughts have allowed the beetles to complete their life cycles in regions previously unsuitable for them, thus expanding their rangeand the severity of infestations.

Although total acres of infected forest is unknown, over 40 million acres in British Columbia alone have been infected. Millions of acres in Colorado, Utah, Idaho, and Montana have also been infected. Due to the mild winters and warming temperatures, otherwise inhabitable forests for the beetle have now been invaded, expanding its scale of destruction.

Controlling these epidemics is challenging. Preventive measures like insecticide sprays are cost-prohibitive on a large scale, and once a tree is infested, it cannot be saved. Long-term forest management strategies, such as reducing tree density and promoting forest diversity, may help mitigate future outbreaks, but they cannot prevent them entirely.

The ecological consequences of the beetle epidemic are significant. In high-elevation pine ecosystems, the beetle outbreak could lead to lasting damage due to slower regeneration rates and susceptibility to additional threats like white pine blister rust.

Economically, the beetle epidemic has far-reaching consequences. Aesthetic values, property values, and tourism in affected areas are likely to suffer due to the extensive tree mortality. While there is potential to use beetle-killed timber for lumber, paper, or biomass energy, the sheer volume of available timber exceeds current processing capacities. Additionally, expanding capacity to utilize this wood may lead to a temporary surplus followed by long-term shortages, which could be unsustainable.

In summary, the mountain pine beetle epidemic presents a complex challenge, with significant ecological and economic impacts exacerbated by climate change. While some control measures can mitigate future risks, the widespread damage and ongoing climate shifts suggest that these infestations will remain a critical issue for forest management and environmental policy.

From problem to solution: wood’s sustainable journey

The cascading effects of beetle killed trees

The cascading effects of beetle killed trees

When our forests are thriving, they become carbon “sinks”

When our forests are thriving, they become carbon “sinks”, absorbing trillions of tons of CO2 from the atmosphere, and locking it away within the trees

From problem to solution: 
wood’s sustainable journey

The cascading effects of  beetle killed trees

When our forests are thriving, they become carbon “sinks”, absorbing trillions of tons of CO2 from the atmosphere, and locking it away within the trees