A study published by the Northern Research Station of the USDA Forest Service suggests that the loss of North American forests to invasive pests has a major effect on carbon dynamics.
“The key impact of the tree-killing alien insects and diseases is that they are greatly increasing the rate at which trees die on average,” Liebhold said. “This transfers carbon stored in live trees to dead material and much of this carbon will likely return to the atmosphere.”
Read the study here.