Carbon sequestration in the growing stock of trees in Finland under different cutting and climate scenarios

Abstract

In this work the aim was to determine how carbon sequestration in the growing stock of trees in Finland is dependent on the forest management and increased production potential due to climate change. This was analysed for the period 2003-2053 using forest inventory data and the forestry model MELA. Four combinations of two climate change and two management scenarios were studied: current (CU) and gradually warming (CC) climate and forest management strategies corresponding to diVerent rates of utilisation of the cutting potential, namely maximum sustainable removal (Sust) or maximum net present value (NPV) of wood production (Max). In this analysis of Finland, the initial amount of carbon in the growing stock was 765 Mt (2,802 Tg CO 2 ). At the end of the simulation, the carbon in the growing stock of trees in Finland had increased to 894 Mt (3,275 Tg CO 2 ) under CUSust, 906 Mt (3,321 Tg CO 2 ) under CUMax, 1,060 Mt (3,885 Tg CO 2 ) under CCSust and 1,026 Mt (3,758 Tg CO 2 ) under CCMax. The results show that future development of carbon in the growing stock is not only dependent on climate change scenarios but also on forest management. For example, maximising the NPV of wood production without sustainability constraints results, over the short term, in a large amount of wood obtained in regeneration cuttings and a consequent decrease in the amount of carbon in growing stock. Over the longer term, this decrease in the carbon of growing stock in regenerated forests is compensated by the subsequent increase in fast-growing young forests. By comparison, no drastic short-term decrease in carbon stock was found in the Sust scenarios; only minor decreases were observed.

Carbon balance for different management practices for fast growing tree species planted on former pastureland in southern Europe: a case study using the CO2Fix model

“…These results are consistent with those of Mund and Schulze (2006), who reported that the total amount of carbon in the system decreased as management intensity increased in Fagus sylvatica stands in Germany. The same effect was reported by Matala et al (2009) who observed that future evolution of C in the growing stock depends on forest management, as well as on climate-change scenarios. Moreover, BS increased with site quality for all species studied.…”

Socio-economic Impacts—Forestry and Agriculture

“…Another simulated management strategy, the maximum net present value (NPV) of wood production, resulted in an increase of 18 and 34 %, respectively, compared to the initial growing stock. The results show that future development of carbon sequestration and growing stock is not only dependent on climate change scenarios but on forest management adapting to changing conditions (Matala et al 2009). Similar conclusions were drawn by Köhl et al (2010) for, among others, temperate regions in north-eastern Germany.…”

“…The highest species-specific opportunity costs (as lost potential benefit) were found for Scots pine (EUR 227 ha −1 ) and the lowest for silver birch (Betula pendula) (EUR 53 ha −1 ). They concluded by stressing the need to adapt future management to utilise the increase in growth under climate change (see also Matala et al 2009). …”

“…This is supported by Garcia-Gonzalo et al (2007a) who reported a 12-13 % increase in timber yield for an adapted thinning regime with high stocking over a 100-year rotation period under climate change impact. Matala et al (2009) described the effect of forest management on carbon sequestration and increased production potential due to climate change over a 50-year period in the growing stock of trees in Finland compared to current values (an initial amount of carbon in the growing stock of 765 million tonnes). They found an increase of *17 % for growing stock without climate change, but an increase of about 38 % under sustainable production and assuming a gradually warming climate until 2053.…”

Case Study of the Effects of the Japanese Verified Emissions Reduction (J-VER) System on Joint Forest Production of Timber and Carbon Sequestration

“…Recently, the benefits of carbon sequestration by forests have been highlighted and carbon sequestration has been measured throughout the world: in the United States (Sakata 2005;Calish et al 1978;Foley et al 2009;Ehman et al 2002;Im et al 2007), Europe (Backèus et al 2005;Liski et al 2001;Matala et al 2009;Pohjola and Valsta 2007;Sivrikaya et al 2007;Kaipainen et al 2004;Seidl et al 2007), Canada (Hennigar et al 2008;Thompson et al 2009), Oceania (Campbell and Jennings 2004) and Asia (Ravendranath 1995;Han and Youn 2009). Forests not only have economic value through the production of commercial timber, but they also have other values to society including acting as carbon sinks, supporting biodiversity, and providing water protection (Pukkala 2002).…”