Recent international studies suggest that forests and natural climate solutions are essential in mitigating climate change, thanks to their carbon sequestering and storage capabilities. Forests’ power to store carbon dioxide through the simple process of tree growth is staggering: one tree can store an average of about 48 pounds of carbon dioxide in one year.

Protecting the world’s forests ensures they can continue to provide essential functions aside from climate stability, including producing oxygen, filtering water, and supporting biodiversity. Not only do all the world’s people depend on forests for clean air, clean water, oxygen, and medicines, but a large number of the population rely on them directly for livelihood.