An increase in forest cover since 1970 has been found in analyses of the U.S. Upper Midwest. This increase results in increased carbon sequestration because forest cover is primarily replacing pastures and croplands. (See "Highlights of Recent Research.")

Credit: School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan

See D.G. Brown, B.C. Pijanowski, and J.D. Duh, "Modeling the relationships between land use and land cover on private lands in the Upper Midwest, USA, " Journal of Environmental Management (2000).