Summing Greenhouse Gases When Farmland is Restored to Forest

A team of researchers, led by Savannah Cooley, examined what happens when farmland returns to its natural state as forest or savanna. Unlike previous studies that focused mainly on carbon dioxide (CO2) absorption, Cooley’s team analyzed a more complete picture: CO2, methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). They found that, while regenerating forests absorb CO2 and small amounts of CH4, they also release N2O—creating a net warming effect from these gases combined. The CO2 absorbed by growing trees outweighs this warming, confirming that natural regeneration still delivers climate benefits compared to agriculture.

The research shows that letting farmland return to forest provides smaller climate benefits than previously thought when all greenhouse gases are included—underscoring why policymakers need better carbon accounting and must pursue both forest restoration and aggressive emissions cuts simultaneously, rather than treating them as alternatives.

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