U.S. Forest Service

Stories

Quantifying the U.S. forest carbon sink

As of May 2026: Primary U.S. forest carbon data source

American forests have stored more carbon over the past two decades than at any point in the last century. A new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that forest age is the primary driver, locking in 89 million metric tons of carbon annually as trees reach peak growth stages. Climate factors (temperature, precipitation, and elevated carbon dioxide) add another 66 million metric tons per year.

Updated May 29

FHWA quietly deletes the “rulebook” for tribal and forest road asset management

Rule Changes

As of May 2026: Affected agency; Forest Highway management-system rules removed from CFR

On December 17, 2025, two FHWA rollbacks took effect that sound boring—and matter anyway. The agency removed the formal, on-the-books requirements that told the Forest Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs how to run safety, bridge, pavement, and congestion management systems for certain federally funded roads.

Updated May 15