A model for regional analysis of carbon sequestration and timber production

Abstract

The greenhouse effect is one of our most severe current environmental problems. Forests make up large ecosystems and can play an important role in mitigating the emissions of CO 2 , the most important greenhouse gas. Different management regimes affect the ability of forests to sequester carbon. It is important to investigate in what way we best can use forests to mitigate the greenhouse effect. It is also important to study what effect different actions, done to increase carbon sequestration, have on other offsets from forestry, such as the harvest level, the availability of forest biofuel and economic factors.In this study, we present an optimization model for analysis of carbon sequestration in forest biomass and forest products at a local or regional scale. The model consists of an optimizing stand-level simulator, and the solution is found using linear programming. Carbon sequestration was accounted for in terms of carbon price and its value computed as a function of carbon price and the net carbon storage in the forest. The same price was used as a cost for carbon emission originating from deterioration of wood products.We carried out a case study for a 3.2 million hectare boreal forest region in northern Sweden. The result showed that 1.48-2.05 million tonnes of carbon per year was sequestered in the area, depending on what carbon price was used. We conclude that assigning carbon storage a monetary value and removal of carbon in forest products as a cost, increases carbon sequestration in the forest and decreases harvest levels. The effect was largest in areas with low site-quality classes.

Heuristic forest planning model for optimizing timber production and carbon sequestration in teak plantations

“…Our results showed that implementing management plans to favor carbon sequestration reduce the economic benefits from timber production, and vice-versa, indicating that these objectives are in conflict, which is consistent with previous studies (Backéus et al 2005, Raymer et al 2009, Nepal et al 2012. According to the model's results, with C prices of US$ 10 Mg -1 managing teak plantations for carbon sequestration only is not attractive, because of the high market value of teak timber.…”

“…Many forest planning models that incorporate carbon sequestration as optimization criteria have been reported in the literature (Hoen & Solberg 1994, Diaz-Balteiro & Romero 2003, Backéus et al 2005, Díaz-Balteiro & Rodriguez 2006, Pohjola & Valsta 2007, Keles & Baskent 2007, Baskent et al 2008, Bravo et al 2008, Raymer et al 2009, Cao et al 2010). In addition, several models quantifying carbon stored in teak trees have been developed (Cubero & Rojas 1999, Kraenzel et al 2003, Gera et al 2011.…”

Incorporating water production and carbon sequestration into forest management planning: a case study in Yalnızçcam planning unit

“…Thus, younger stands tended to sequester more carbon than older stands did according to the formulation in this study. Backeus et al (2005) showed that total carbon storage increases at a slower rate when a forest matures over time, implying that the carbon flux in a forest ecosystem decreases. Furthermore, Pérez-García et al (2005) showed that when carbon emissions are taken into account, shorter rotations incline to increase total carbon storage.…”

“…Different management regimes can affect the amount of carbon sequestrated in forest vegetation and soil by controlling the forest management practices, e.g. by changing rotation lengths or intensifying thinning operations (Backeus et al, 2005;Swanson, 2009). In addition, land use activities and forest ecosystem planning are increasingly considered an option for limiting greenhouse gas concentration in the atmosphere (Hu and Wang, 2008;Kaul et al, 2009) as illustrated by several researches.…”

“…Here, multiple use forest management planning approach focuses on the integration of timber and non-wood forest products such as carbon, oxygen, water and soil production. But so far few studies attempted to integrate carbon sequestration and water production into forest planning (Díaz-Balteiro and Romero, 2003;Backeus et al, 2005;Keleş and Başkent, 2007;Seidl et al, 2007;Hennigar et al, 2008;Başkent et al, 2008). Similarly, few other studies developed a forest management planning model to integrate carbon, water and timber into forest management planning (Yolasıg maz, 2004).…”