[ China ] Researchers have found soils in an old-growth forest in southern China are storing carbon at a rapid rate. If common to the soils of other old-growth forests, the finding could add combating global warming to the reasons for preserving them from logging, some scientists say. The finding from soils in southern China goes against the generally accepted idea that old-growth forests are in balance, giving up as much carbon through decomposition as they take in from falling leaves and dying roots. “This isn’t business as usual for an old-growth forest,” Aber said. “If this can be found to be generally the case in old-growth forests everywhere, it could have huge implications.

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