Forests currently comprise one-third of land in the United States. Managed or “working” forests are those in private ownership that are actively managed to produce a desired outcome, whether it be wood products, recreational activities, wildlife habitats, or carbon sequestration.

Forests sequester a significant amount of carbon through tree growth, as well as below ground in soils and in other vegetation. In addition to carbon sequestration in growing trees, solid wood products made from harvested trees can extend carbon storage by many decades when used for building construction. Accurately measuring and monitoring these carbon stocks and flows is critical to managing forests to mitigate climate change. The US Forest Service’s Forest Inventory and Analysis program provides data on carbon stocks and changes for all US forests, and the forest industry is increasingly using end-to-end life cycle assessments as a tool to effectively measure carbon flow. Getting these numbers right is essential for establishing a viable forest carbon market and for action by private forest landowners.