carbon and forest management robert matthews forest research biometrics, surveys and statistics...
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Carbon and forest management
Robert Matthews
Forest Research
Biometrics, Surveys and Statistics Division
Alice Holt Research Station, Farnham
Carbon and forest management
18 April 2008
• Human activity is interfering with the global carbon balance
• This is leading to climate change• The major causes are:• Burning fossil fuels• Deforestation.
The problem
Carbon and forest management
18 April 2008
Burning fossil fuels
6.3 GtC y -1
Land-use change
(including deforestation)
1.6 GtC y -1
‘Enhanced’ vegetation
growth
3.0 GtC y -1
Ocean absorption
1.7 GtC y -1
Net accumulation:
3.2 GtC y 3.2 GtC y -1-1
Global carbon balance c. 1990-2000
Carbon and forest management
18 April 2008
Additionality
It worksSaturationPermanence
Offsetting CO2 emissions by planting trees
Carbon and forest management
18 April 2008
Atmospheric CO2
Woodybioma
ss
Non-woodybiomass
Woodylitter
Non-woodylitter
Soil organicmatter
WoodproductsProduct
decay
Stemthinning
andharvesting
Transfer ofresidues to soil
Soil decomposition
Natural mortalityThinningsHarvest debris
Photosynthesis (NPP)(from volume growth curve & expansion factors)
Woody litter decay Non-woody litter decay
Model-based evaluation - C-flow
Carbon and forest management
18 April 2008
0
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Year
Carb
on o
ffset
(tC/
ha)
Standing
Model-based evaluation - CARBINE
Carbon and forest management
18 April 2008
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0 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225 250
Year
Car
bon
Sto
cks
(tC/h
a)
Trees
Products
Litter
Soil
Model-based evaluation - C-flow
Carbon and forest management
18 April 2008
Forest soils
Wood products in landfill
Tree roots
Non-forest trees
Forest tree stems and branches
Wood products in use
UK forest carbon stocks
Roughly 100 MtC
Carbon and forest management
18 April 2008
Forests, harvested wood and carbon
Carbon and forest management
18 April 2008
Model-based evaluation - CARBINE
Carbon and forest management
18 April 2008
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Year
Carb
on o
ffset
(tC/
ha)
Material
Fuel
Standing
Model-based evaluation - CARBINE
Carbon and forest management
18 April 2008
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Year
Carb
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ffset
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ha)
Standing
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Year
Carb
on o
ffset
(tC/
ha)
Fuel
Standing
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0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Year
Carb
on o
ffset
(tC/
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Material
Fuel
Standing
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0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Year
Carb
on o
ffset
(tC/
ha)
Material
Fuel
Standing
Model-based evaluation - CARBINE(graphs on different scales to show details)
‘Carbon reserve’
‘Continuous cover’
Thin and fell
‘Energy forestry’
Carbon and forest management
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0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Year
Carb
on o
ffset
(tC/
ha)
Material
Fuel
Standing
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0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Year
Carb
on o
ffset
(tC/
ha)
Material
Fuel
Standing
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0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Year
Carb
on o
ffset
(tC/
ha)
Fuel
Standing
0
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1200
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0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Year
Carb
on o
ffset
(tC/
ha)
Standing
Model-based evaluation - CARBINE(graphs on same scales to permit comparison)
‘Carbon reserve’
‘Continuous cover’
Thin and fell
‘Energy forestry’
Carbon and forest management
18 April 2008
Forest carbon management options
Carbon and forest management
18 April 2008
>100%20%
Forest carbon sequestration +Forest sector management
UK0.15 GtC y-1)
2% 5%
20% with imports?
World(3.2 GtC y-1)
45%6%
World(25 GtC y-1)
Forest carbon management potential
Carbon and forest management
18 April 2008
• Globally, forests play an important part in the carbon balance.
• Forests are also a renewable resource.• Options for mitigating climate change are:• Afforestation• Reforestation• Adjustments to forest management• Avoided deforestation• Targeted timber utilistation.
Conclusions (global)
Carbon and forest management
18 April 2008
• UK forests can make a small but useful contribution.
• Carbon sequestration can be ‘hostage to fortune’.
• Emissions saved through (home grown or imported) wood are ‘banked’.
• Focus on use of wood at least as much as forest management.
• Role for imported wood?
Conclusions (UK)