Forest Stewardship

Contributing to a Reduced-Carbon Climate

Climate change poses significant risks to our communities, our ecosystems and our own business. By taking collective, decisive action today, however, we can shape a more resilient future.

Green Diamond’s impact on this challenge is uniquely informed by the nature of our business. That’s because, when it comes to technology to sequester and store carbon, the capacity of a well-managed forest remains unmatched. Our timberlands capture carbon and store it in living trees and soil—and a portion of it is re-released and re-captured in a natural, continuous cycle. These properties continue throughout the forest’s value chain, with carbon remaining stored in the long life of the wood-based end products produced from timber.

Research has found that over nearly two decades, from 2001 to 2019, forests globally sequestered about twice as much carbon dioxide (CO2) as they emitted.. The World Resources Institute put that into perspective by noting that “forests provide a ‘carbon sink’ that absorbs a net 7.6 billion metric tonnes of CO2 per year, 1.5 times more carbon than the United States emits annually.”

How Do Forests Sequester Carbon?

To understand how trees sequester carbon, simply go back to the science class that taught us photosynthesis. Through this process—often called the original carbon sequestration technology—trees pull CO2 from the air and then combine it with sugar, which fuels the growth of wood, branches and roots. Oxygen is released in the process. Different forests store carbon at different rates, depending on the age of the trees. Young trees grow and capture carbon rapidly, while more mature trees grow more slowly but have a greater relative capacity.

With 2.2 million acres of land under our management, we leverage our scale and expertise to innovate meaningful climate change solutions. We model and provide management practices aimed at enhancing the forest’s carbon-sink potential, such as avoiding overharvesting, mitigating risks from pests and wildfires, and engaging in reforestation.

“As large-scale landowners and active participants in the carbon offset market, we believe there is great potential for private landowners to be meaningful contributors to climate change solutions. We are delighted to work with such esteemed partners on a shared vision.”

Green Diamond President Douglas Reed, who, in 2020, became one of 48 CEOs to agree to a common vision for increasing the contribution of forests and forest products to climate mitigation.

Learn about our natural climate solutions.