References
[1] Schmitz, Oswald & Sylvén, Magnus & Atwood, Trisha & Bakker, Elisabeth & Berzaghi, Fabio & Brodie, Jedediah & Cromsigt, Joris & Davies, Andrew & Leroux, Shawn & Schepers, Frans & Smith, Felisa & Stark, Sari & Svenning, Jens-Christian & Tilker, Andrew & Ylänne, Henni. (2023). Trophic rewilding can expand natural climate solutions. Nature Climate Change. 13. 10.1038/s41558-023-01631-6.
[2] Spracklen, Dominick & Chapman, Pippa & Fletcher, T. & Lane, J. & Nilsen, E. & Perks, M. & Schofield, L. & Scott, C.. (2025). Wolf reintroduction to Scotland could support substantial native woodland expansion and associated carbon sequestration. Ecological Solutions and Evidence. 6. 10.1002/2688-8319.70016.
Grey Wolf
Wolves could increase carbon storage across North American boreal forests by the equivalent of removing 33-71 million passenger vehicles from the road each year.
Apex predators such as wolves play a pivotal role in an ecosystem’s carbon sequestration.
By regulating herbivore populations, they set off a chain of effects throughout the food chain, or trophic cascade, with significant consequences for carbon storage.
In North American boreal forests, wolves hunt moose and keep them on the move, preventing overgrazing on woody vegetation. This allows more trees to survive and grow larger, increasing the amount of carbon stored in both the trees and the soil.
A 2016 study estimated that wolves could increase carbon storage across North American boreal forests by the equivalent of removing 33-71 million passenger vehicles from the road each year.[1]
A 2024 study from Scotland estimated the impact of wolf reintroduction in the Scottish Highlands, finding that the subsequent expansion of woodland could sequester approximately 1 million tonnes of CO2 per year.[2]
The research notes that such a large-scale expansion of woodlands, facilitated through the return of wolves, can contribute to national climate targets and provide potential economic benefits to landowners and communities through carbon finance. [2]
Grey Wolf
Wolves could increase carbon storage across North American boreal forests by the equivalent of removing 33-71 million passenger vehicles from the road each year.
Apex predators such as wolves play a pivotal role in an ecosystem’s carbon sequestration.
By regulating herbivore populations, they set off a chain of effects throughout the food chain, or trophic cascade, with significant consequences for carbon storage.
In North American boreal forests, wolves hunt moose and keep them on the move, preventing overgrazing on woody vegetation. This allows more trees to survive and grow larger, increasing the amount of carbon stored in both the trees and the soil.
A 2016 study estimated that wolves could increase carbon storage across North American boreal forests by the equivalent of removing 33-71 million passenger vehicles from the road each year.[1]
A 2024 study from Scotland estimated the impact of wolf reintroduction in the Scottish Highlands, finding that the subsequent expansion of woodland could sequester approximately 1 million tonnes of CO2 per year.[2]
The research notes that such a large-scale expansion of woodlands, facilitated through the return of wolves, can contribute to national climate targets and provide potential economic benefits to landowners and communities through carbon finance. [2]