One of the key mechanisms for mitigating the effects of global warming is the process of carbon sequestration. The greenhouse effect leads to the rise in ocean temperatures, melting of polar ice caps, frequent droughts, floods, and extreme weather events. The main factor contributing to these phenomena is carbon dioxide (CO2), which hinders the cooling of the Earth’s surface by trapping heat. Despite many initiatives aimed at reducing CO2 emissions, its concentration in the atmosphere continues to rise, as illustrated in Figure 1.

Forests play a crucial role in reducing CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere through carbon sequestration during photosynthesis. Carbon sequestration is an integral part of photosynthesis, where trees use carbon to build tissue and grow, temporarily isolating it from the atmosphere. In this way, forests function as “carbon sinks,” helping to lower the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere.

However, forests can also be significant sources of CO2. Global warming increases the frequency and intensity of wildfires, releasing carbon stored in plants—sometimes for centuries—back into the atmosphere. This burning cycle contributes to planetary warming, increasing the risk of future fires. Globally, carbon emissions from wildfires account for less than 5% of total emissions, but in high-risk fire areas, these emissions can be significantly higher than all other CO2 sources in those regions[1]. Besides the loss of carbon from plant material, high-intensity fires can also affect organic matter in the soil, further increasing carbon emissions into the atmosphere.

Retaining carbon in solid form, whether in living trees, wood products, or organic matter in the soil, is crucial for regulating global warming. It is essential to develop forest management systems adapted to climate change, which will enhance the capacity for carbon sequestration.

One way to increase soil’s capacity for carbon retention is through controlled low-intensity fires. These fires promote the formation of charcoal and soil aggregates, which can retain carbon for extended periods, thereby increasing the soil’s capacity to sequester new amounts of carbon[2]. Such management systems also include measures to remove excess combustible material from forest lands, reducing the risk of large fires. Research shows that mature trees have the greatest potential for carbon retention. Forest management should focus on preserving mature trees and removing dense undergrowth[3]. After fires, the growth of shrubby and weedy vegetation can prolong the recovery period of mature forest stands, reducing their resilience to droughts and fires[4].

It should be noted that some research indicates that the amount of carbon lost during wildfires is significantly less compared to the amount of carbon released by burning fossil fuels. Additionally, logging forests to produce wood products for heat generation causes greater carbon emissions than high-intensity fires[5]. Considering the issue of wildfires from the perspective of balancing the amount of sequestered and released carbon, it is clear that this is a complex area of research.

Systems where forests are not logged at all are unsustainable, while excessive logging disrupts ecological balance and increases the concentration of carbon in the atmosphere. The choice between logging young and old trees is a complex decision. When the impact of climate change and the specific conditions and needs of each habitat are included in the equation, it becomes clear that the forestry profession and science face a significant challenge in the coming period.

The forest simultaneously represents a solution for climate change and the preservation of the natural world, but it is also extremely sensitive, requiring careful and thoughtful approaches to its conservation and management.

[1] International Association of Fire and Rescue Services (21. septembar 2023) How much do forest fires contribute to CO2 emissions? – it can range from 5 % to almost 300 times that of all fossil fuels burned, depending on the area and population density; URL: https://www.ctif.org/news/how-much-do-forest-fires-contribute-co2-emissions-depending-area-and-population-density-it-can#:~:text=Worldwide%2C%20wildfires%20in%202021%20released,5%20percent%20of%20total%20emissions.

[2] Pellegrini, AFA.et al: Fire effects on the persistence of soil organic matter and long-term carbon storage, Nature Geoscience, December 2021. DOI 10.1038/s41561-021-00867-1

[3] Bartowitz Kristina J. , Walsh Eric S. , Stenzel Jeffrey E. , Kolden Crystal A. , Hudiburg Tara W. (2022) Forest Carbon Emission Sources Are Not Equal: Putting Fire, Harvest, and Fossil Fuel Emissions in Context, VOL 5. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change; DOI: 10.3389/ffgc.2022.867112

[4] Clark Richter, Marcel Rejmánek, Jesse E. D. Miller, Kevin R. Welch, JonahMaria Weeks, Hugh Safford. (2019) The species diversity × fire severity relationship is hump‐shaped in semiarid yellow pine and mixed conifer forests. Ecosphere; DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2882

[5] Bartowitz Kristina J. , Walsh Eric S. , Stenzel Jeffrey E. , Kolden Crystal A. , Hudiburg Tara W. (2022) Forest Carbon Emission Sources Are Not Equal: Putting Fire, Harvest, and Fossil Fuel Emissions in Context, VOL 5. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change; DOI: 10.3389/ffgc.2022.867112