"We cannot sit back and remain silent while TNC enables an industry that is doing so much damage to climate, biodiversity, and environmental justice communities," said Danna Smith, executive director of Dogwood Alliance. "We need swift and courageous action to protect forests and our most vulnerable communities if we are going to meet the grave crises we are facing at this moment." When trees are logged, most of the carbon they store is released. Every year, US logging releases about 723 million tons of carbon dioxide - equivalent to burning more than 3.7 billion pounds of coal. Logging slashes forests' ability to absorb and accumulate massive amounts of carbon from the atmosphere. It also destroys habitats for plants and animals, including endangered species. It damages services local communities depend on, including natural flood control and water purification. Meanwhile, wood processing facilities, most of which are found in environmental justice communities, emit toxic pollution making it harder for nearby residents to breathe.
Evidence that wood markets and logging are making climate change worse How letting forests grow is vital to solving the climate crisis and protecting communities from extreme weather events such as flooding and wildfires Cases where wood production is emitting harmful pollution, disproportionately impacting low- income communities and communities of color How TNC works with some of the worst players in the forestry industry to promote the expansion of wood production and logging via government measures such as the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. wood products and logging, to help catalyze a bold effort to protect forests and align with environmental justice communities. The letter states: "TNC programs are promoting false climate solutions that center the financial interests of large lumber, pulp/paper, biomass/wood-pellet, and other corporations that perpetuate carbon emissions, biodiversity loss, pollution and environmental injustice." In a series of articles, The Nature Conspiracy exposé refers to scientific evidence, public statements, and expert interviews to document:
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