Question

What fraction of the fossil fuel emissions in the United States could be absorbed by converting 25% of agricultural land in the U.S. to native forests?
a.
approximately 10%
b.
approximately 20%
c.
approximately 30%
d.
approximately 40%


Please select the best answer from the choices provided

A
B
C
D

Answer 1

B

Converting 25% of U.S. agricultural land (~91 million ha) to native forest could sequester on the order of ~1 Gt CO2/yr (using typical reforestation uptake ≈3 tC/ha/yr ≈11 tCO2/ha/yr), which is roughly 20% of U.S. fossil fuel emissions (~5 Gt CO2/yr).