Science: Old growth forests may take up more CO2 than previously thought

Old-growth forests 'are key carbon sinks'

Classified as forests at least 100 years old, old-growth forests are widespread in tropical and subtropical developing countries. Until now, they were not thought to absorb and store significant amounts of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.

In a study published in Science this week, however, scientists show that a 400-year-old forest in southern China is soaking up carbon from the atmosphere considerably faster than expected.

Developing countries with abundant old-growth forest cover could ask rich countries for compensation through the global carbon trade. This could help reduce deforestation in the developing world.

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