New England's forests are experiencing a remarkable recovery, according to Bill Moomaw, a distinguished visiting scientist at the Woodwell Climate Research Center. In an interview with public radio’s “Living on Earth,” Moomaw described the regrowth as spectacular, noting the dramatic transformation since the period of European colonization. The region, once heavily cleared for agriculture, has seen forests reclaim the landscape over the past century.
This reforestation represents a significant carbon sink, pulling carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it in trees and soil. While exact emissions impact figures were not detailed in the interview, the regrowth contributes to regional climate mitigation efforts. The timeline of this recovery spans roughly 150 years, with forests now covering about 80% of the land in some New England states.
The ecological and economic value of these regrown forests is substantial, though specific investment figures were not provided. Healthy forests support biodiversity, water quality, and recreation-based economies. However, Moomaw also warned that these gains are threatened by climate-driven stresses, including warming temperatures, invasive pests, and more frequent severe weather events.
Geopolitically, the regrowth of New England's forests aligns with broader U.S. commitments under the Paris Agreement, though federal policy on forest conservation remains inconsistent. State-level initiatives in the region have focused on preserving remaining wildlands and promoting sustainable forestry practices to maintain the carbon storage benefits.
A countervailing concern is that the current regrowth may be imperiled by accelerating climate impacts. Moomaw cautioned that without significant emissions reductions, these forests could shift from carbon sinks to carbon sources, releasing stored carbon as they degrade from heat, drought, and fire.