A recent study by the USDA Forest Servce (https://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/59852) estimates that US forests represent the largest net carbon sink in the United States. They offset more that 11 percent of total green house gas emissions annually.
From the University of Minnesota :
Trees and climate change
Trees are a natural climate solution, absorbing carbon from the atmosphere and storing it as wood. This means that healthy growing trees increase carbon sequestration and help offset greenhouse gas emissions.
According to recent estimates in the United States, forests remove about 11% of total carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the atmosphere. This is a motivation for keeping healthy trees and forests on the landscape! Minnesota woodland owners own 40% of the state’s forests or about 6.8 million acres.
The American Forest Foundation estimates that across all forest ownerships, private woodland owners have the greatest opportunity to mitigate the effects of future climate change through storing and sequestering carbon in their trees and woodlands.
In Minnesota this is especially true: our diverse forests from the North Woods in northern Minnesota to the Blufflands in southeastern Minnesota present a rich opportunity to contribute to natural climate solutions.
The Sleeping Bear Tree Farm will participate in current and future CO2 studies.