"Through hundreds of years of photosynthesis, trees store atmospheric carbon in their wood. They reproduce in sun-doused clearings, which are carved out by winter storms. These winter winds blast through the Olympic National Park's rainforests, toppling trees, breaking limbs, and snapping treetops. This helps build a thick layer of wood and needles on the forest floor. As this layer of once-living things collects on the ground, that carbon which is not consumed by fungi, insects, micro-organisms, and bacteria is buried in the forest—carbon which would otherwise further accumulate in the atmosphere. Many scientists fear that increased levels of carbon dioxide are leading to global climate change. Parks like Olympic National can help. As humans continue to dump carbon dioxide into the air through combustion of fossil fuels, Olympic National Park tirelessly buries our atmospheric wastes in the ground."²