What role do old-growth forests play in carbon storage?

Old-growth forests play a crucial role in carbon storage primarily because they contain significant amounts of biomass. As trees age and grow larger, they accumulate more carbon in their trunks, branches, and root systems. The complex structure of old-growth forests, which includes a mix of large trees, downed logs, and a rich understory, allows them to store carbon more effectively than younger forests. This is due to the larger volume of wood that has been accumulated over time, enabling more carbon sequestration.

Additionally, old-growth forests tend to have an accumulation of organic matter in the soil, which further contributes to their carbon storage capacity. They also stabilize the ecosystem, allowing them to sequester carbon over much longer periods, which is vital for mitigating climate change. Through photosynthesis, these forests absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, making them important carbon sinks.

The other options present lesser truths about old-growth forests. For instance, young forests can grow quickly and sequester carbon, but they typically do not hold as much total biomass as mature forests. The notion that they release more carbon than they store contradicts their function as carbon sinks, as old-growth systems generally demonstrate long-term carbon storage rather than release. Furthermore, while many old-growth forests are indeed