Forest management strategies for increasing carbon stocks and sequestration Anthony D’Amato Dept. of Forest Resources

Outline Review components of carbon cycle related to forest management Discuss common recommendations for increasing carbon stocks and sequestration Address questions raised at Forest Values and Carbon Markets Conference

Review components of carbon cycle related to forest management

Discuss common recommendations for increasing carbon stocks and sequestration

Address questions raised at Forest Values and Carbon Markets Conference

Relevant Components of Forest Carbon Cycle Sequestration Amount of carbon absorbed by forest vegetation and stored in ecosystem components (living biomass, dead wood, soils) Need to account for carbon lost to atmosphere through respiration (decomposition of organic matter, plant respiration)

Sequestration

Amount of carbon absorbed by forest vegetation and stored in ecosystem components (living biomass, dead wood, soils)

Need to account for carbon lost to atmosphere through respiration (decomposition of organic matter, plant respiration)

Gross sequestration From: Stavins & Richards (2005) Respiration 0-10 11-30 31-70 71-120 >120 From: Pregitzer & Euskirchen (2004)

Relevant Components of Forest Carbon Cycle Carbon storage Amount of carbon accumulated in living and dead biomass, as well as forest soils

Carbon storage

Amount of carbon accumulated in living and dead biomass, as well as forest soils

Relevant Components of Forest Carbon Cycle Adapted from: Pregitzer & Euskirchen (2004)

Management recommendations for increased carbon stocks and sequestration Influence sequestration rates Increase or maintain high-levels of growth Thinning, fertilization, improved growing stock Increase stocking levels on understocked stands Stock “from below”-underplanting

Influence sequestration rates

Increase or maintain high-levels of growth

Thinning, fertilization, improved growing stock

Increase stocking levels on understocked stands

Stock “from below”-underplanting

Management recommendations for increased carbon stocks and sequestration Influence carbon storage Extended rotation periods Increase total carbon accumulated in forest biomass Partial harvesting systems Minimize respiration rates during regeneration period

Influence carbon storage

Extended rotation periods

Increase total carbon accumulated in forest biomass

Partial harvesting systems

Minimize respiration rates during regeneration period

Management recommendations for increased carbon stocks and sequestration Influence carbon storage Increase quality and size of trees Potential for long-term storage in long-lived wood products Reduce respiration rates associated with decomposition Thin to salvage mortality Utilize logging residues

Influence carbon storage

Increase quality and size of trees

Potential for long-term storage in long-lived wood products

Reduce respiration rates associated with decomposition

Thin to salvage mortality

Utilize logging residues

Management recommendations for increased carbon stocks and sequestration Balancing sequestration and storage Increasing growth rates versus storage Wood products from short versus longer rotations Emissions associated with intermediate treatments and product lifecycles

Balancing sequestration and storage

Increasing growth rates versus storage

Wood products from short versus longer rotations

Emissions associated with intermediate treatments and product lifecycles

Questions raised at Forest Values and Carbon Markets Conference In context of changing climate, does it make sense to manage for historic forest composition? Use as guide for range of species and structures currently adapted to site Provide opportunity for reassembly and adaptation to new climate regimes Guide for prioritizing carbon management strategies E.g., Species and sites currently suitable for underplanting

In context of changing climate, does it make sense to manage for historic forest composition?

Use as guide for range of species and structures currently adapted to site

Provide opportunity for reassembly and adaptation to new climate regimes

Guide for prioritizing carbon management strategies

E.g., Species and sites currently suitable for underplanting

Questions raised at Forest Values and Carbon Markets Conference Is managing for carbon storage and sequestration compatible with biodiversity conservation? What’s best for sequestration and storage, may not be best for biodiversity Hybrid poplar on short rotations vs. old-growth mixed species stands Strategies for both can be integrated at stand and landscape-scales Retention of green trees, biological legacies (large dead wood) within plantations; reserve areas for sake of biodiversity conservation; varied rotation lengths at landscape-level; mixed species management

Is managing for carbon storage and sequestration compatible with biodiversity conservation?

What’s best for sequestration and storage, may not be best for biodiversity

Hybrid poplar on short rotations vs. old-growth mixed species stands

Strategies for both can be integrated at stand and landscape-scales

Retention of green trees, biological legacies (large dead wood) within plantations; reserve areas for sake of biodiversity conservation; varied rotation lengths at landscape-level; mixed species management

Questions raised at Forest Values and Carbon Markets Conference Within the context of climate change, what three things should be kept in mind when writing a stand-level prescription? What are the overriding objectives? E.g., produce fiber based on aspen coppice How can these objectives be met while also incorporating climate mitigation (carbon storage) strategies? E.g., retention of scattered leave trees, use of intermediate treatments How can these objectives be met while providing for adaptation/resiliency? E.g., promotion of mixed species

Within the context of climate change, what three things should be kept in mind when writing a stand-level prescription?

What are the overriding objectives?

E.g., produce fiber based on aspen coppice

How can these objectives be met while also incorporating climate mitigation (carbon storage) strategies?

E.g., retention of scattered leave trees, use of intermediate treatments

How can these objectives be met while providing for adaptation/resiliency?

E.g., promotion of mixed species