The cause of climate change is excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Forests can play an important role in removing carbon dioxide from the air, as they transform it into tree trunks, roots, and leaves. Much of the Hoosier National Forest has been accumulating carbon for more than 80 years. Since forest activists convinced the U.S. Forest Service to reduce the amount of timber harvesting in 1990, the Forest Service estimates the amount of carbon stored in the Hoosier has increased more than 40%. …Allowing forests to mature allows them to absorb and store more carbon dioxide. When trees are harvested, some of the carbon remains locked away in the form of wood products such as lumber in houses. However, the process of timbering releases about 10-25% of the carbon from a stand back to the atmosphere. The Forest Service’s plan for logging … mature forest in the Hoosier National Forest will release much of its long-stored carbon.