COLUMBIA, Mo. – Forestry faculty from the University of Missouri School of Natural Resources will share findings of their recently published report showing wood products can play an important role in long-term carbon storage.

A presentation and panel discussion will be held 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, in room 123 of the Anheuser-Busch Natural Resources Building on the MU campus.

The report, “Carbon and Biomass Dynamics in Missouri Forests and Implications for Climate Change,” shows that benefits include moving carbon stored in trees from the forest to products such as flooring and lumber while increasing space in the forest for more trees and carbon storage.

“Trees are genetically programmed to sequester and store carbon,” said MU Extension forestry state specialist Hank Stelzer, a co-author of the report.

The report highlights sustainable forest management practices such as planting trees, thinning forest stands so they maintain high rates of carbon sequestration and harvesting mature stands to prevent dead and decaying trees from releasing their carbon back to the atmosphere.

Active management of forest resources using sustainable practices offers a variety of benefits beyond carbon and wood products, Stelzer said. Improved wildlife habitat, increased biodiversity and improved resiliency to disturbances or changing climate are just a few examples.

The report concludes with 10 practices to increase forest carbon sequestration and offset carbon dioxide emissions.

Following the presentation, there will be a Q&A panel discussion with representatives from the university, the forest products industry and the Missouri Department of Conservation.

There will be a reception before the presentation at 6:30 p.m. in the ABNR lobby.

The report is available for download at https://mizzou.us/Carbon-Climate-Report-24.