The scientists studied forests in Western China to see how much carbon dioxide they absorb. Using a method to measure tree growth, they found that from 1994 to 2013, the forests in this area stored 42.44 billion tons of carbon. By 2013, the total carbon stored in these forests was 103.56 billion tons. They predict that by 2050, the forests in Western China could store 20.76 billion more tons of carbon. However, compared to global averages, these forests absorb relatively less carbon. To increase their carbon absorption capacity, it's crucial to improve forest management, establish carbon trading systems, enhance ecological compensation, and reform property rights in forestry.