[EngManagerIsMe]

Trees gather up a ton (sometimes many tons) of carbon during their lives. When they die and begin to decompose, fungi and bacteria return most of that carbon back into the atmosphere as CO2.

If we could find a way to prevent that, then those trees could be used as machines to pull CO2 out of the air and store it, preventing it from being a greenhouse gas.

[wyldberry]

And what of the effects on the rest of the cycle of life that rely on the fungi and bacteria decomposing the tree?

[EngManagerIsMe]

Interestingly, many forest stands are actually overpopulated with trees. Removal of organic matter helps the existing trees grow taller and more healthy, improves the habitat for other species and animals, and can result in a more biodiverse, healthier forest less vulnerable to parasites and invasives. It can also reduce the severity of forest fires.

Source: I manage forestland in the PNW for the purpose of habitat restoration, and was surprised to learn how removing tree mass from a system can actually improve the overall health and biomass of a system.

[throwmeawaaay]

Nobody is suggesting doing this to every tree.