Currently, forests in the United States absorb 11% of the nation's carbon emissions, or 150 million metric tons of carbon annually, which is equal to the emissions from 40 coal power plants all together. However, if their emissions from dying trees outweigh their carbon absorption, starting in 2025, their capacity to absorb carbon may start to decline and they might emit up to 100 million metric tons of carbon annually. According to the USDA analysis, woods may constitute a "substantial carbon source" by 2070 if nothing is done.
Wood products from managed forests sustain rural manufacturing and jobs. Due to the fact that carbon makes up half of wood's dry weight, wood also aids the environment. In contrast to simply locking up our forests through litigation and hoping a serious wildfire never comes, the continuous cycle of forestry—the continuous planting, growing, harvesting, and replanting of trees—along with the use of long-lived wood building materials—offers significant benefits for carbon sequestration and storage.