Forests’ Roles in Earth’s Carbon Cycle | The Future of Nature

Forest ecosystems are complex communities, and interactions between different species of animals and plants keep each forest healthy while playing critical roles in the carbon cycle of Earth.

In these case study clips, students learn about the carbon storage mechanisms that occur within different forest biomes: boreal, temperate, and tropical. The clips also introduce students to the scientists who study these biomes as well as the technologies experts use to determine carbon storage values. 

Engagement activities include analyzing graphs of actual data of carbon storage per forest biome, designing an ideal forest to help rebalance Earth’s carbon cycle, and mapping the carbon drawdown in a local landscape.

About the Author
Kathy Biernat is an award-winning educator with over 20 years of teaching middle school students, believing “hands on=minds on.” She has a BS from Marquette and an MS from University of North Texas. While she left full time teaching to pursue curriculum design work, she couldn’t stay away from the classroom entirely and can still be found running science labs at Saint Alphonsus in Greendale, WI.