>> mature forest is generally close to carbon neutral. > Even the 19th century portions are filled with all manner of life / transpiration. Definitely. We own

>> mature forest is generally close to carbon neutral. > Even the 19th century portions are filled with all manner of life / transpiration. Definitely. We own and live on a somewhat similar parcel in Vermont next to the Green Mountain National Forest. I'm actually not saying that you should cut these areas, only that that you should consider doing so if your primary goal truly is carbon offsets. Although I think offsetting carbon is a good thing if all else was equal, it's not the thing I would prioritize here. You are a drop in the bucket next to all the adjoining land. Think of what you can do differently to provide for niches that are not already provided. My personal emphasis is focused more on wildlife habitat than carbon.