How a tree works: The forest lifecycle

This process of capturing and storing carbon goes on in every forest throughout the world.

As trees grow, they store more and more carbon.

Once they reach maturity, the process stops and the amount of carbon stored does not change.

When the trees rot or are burned, the carbon is released, but this carbon can be taken out of the atmosphere again and stored by young, growing trees.

This gives a continuous, balanced cycle where the carbon is exchanged between dying and growing trees.

Next step...

Now click on 'A never-ending harvest' on the left of this page to find out about all the amazing things made out of trees .