Climate Change Mitigation Potential in Boreal Forests: Impacts of Management, Harvest Intensity and Use of Forest Biomass to Substitute Fossil Resources

Abstract

Abstract:The impacts of alternative forest management scenarios and harvest intensities on climate change mitigation potential of forest biomass production, utilization and economic profitability of biomass production were studied in three boreal sub-regions in Finland over a 40-year period. Ecosystem modelling and life cycle assessment tools were used to calculate the mitigation potential in substituting fossil materials and energy, expressed as the net CO 2 exchange. Currently recommended management targeting to timber production acted as a baseline management. Alternative management included maintaining 20% higher or lower stocking in forests and final felling made at lower breast height diameter than used in the baseline. In alternative management scenarios, logging residues and logging residues with coarse roots and stumps were harvested in final felling in addition to timber. The net CO 2 exchange in the southern and eastern sub-regions was higher compared to the western one due to higher net ecosystem CO 2 exchange (NEE) over the study period. Maintaining higher stocking with earlier final felling and intensified biomass harvest appeared to be the best option to increase both climate benefits and economic returns. Trade-offs between the highest net CO 2 exchange and economic profitability of biomass production existed. The use of alternative displacement factors largely affected the mitigation potential of forest biomass.

Effects of CMIP5 Projections on Volume Growth, Carbon Stock and Timber Yield in Managed Scots Pine, Norway Spruce and Silver Birch Stands under Southern and Northern Boreal Conditions

“…Favoring mixed-species forestry may also make it possible to change in a flexible way the management strategies to respond to the realized climate change in different time spans. On the other hand, forest productivity may also be increased per unit land area by intensifying forest management, e.g., by adopting thinning regimes and rotation length and by using better growing tree species and genotypes (e.g., drought and heat adapted) and forest fertilization, respectively (see e.g., [2,35,65]). This may help to counteract at least partially the expected decrease in forest productivity under the severe climate change and associated increase in various abiotic and biotic risks to forests.…”

“…The initial amount of soil organic matter (and carbon) and the nitrogen available for growth are based on the site fertility type and regional temperature sum of the current climate [2,31]. In the simulations, management control includes artificial regeneration (planting) with the desired spacing and tree species, control of stand density in thinning and final cut and nitrogen fertilization (see, e.g., [2,[20][21][22]34,35]). In harvesting, in addition to timber (sawlog and pulpwood), energy wood may also be harvested.…”

Role of Plant Traits in Photosynthesis and Thermal Damage Avoidance under Warmer and Drier Climates in Boreal Forests

“…Warming, together with low water, is already negatively affecting forest productivity [16,17] and threatening the survival of sensitive species [18]. This is especially problematic in the boreal region considering the role of boreal forests in the global carbon (C) cycle [19,20] and as a biomass source in climate change mitigation policies [21]. However, while the joint effects of high air temperatures and low water availability and the occurrence of thermal damage and/or limitation of assimilation rates have been extensively studied in arid and semi-arid environments [22,23], the potential occurrence of such conditions has been mostly overlooked in more mesic environments and boreal forests [24].…”

Spatial Distribution of Biomass and Woody Litter for Bio-Energy in Biscay (Spain)

“…One of the most important advantages of biomass use is its low atmosphere-pollutant production when compared with conventional fuels: minimum production of SO 2 due to its low S content; the emission of NO x is also significantly reduced since biomass combustion can take place at lower temperatures, almost without affecting its yield [9]. Apart from this, the use of forest biomass for energy purposes has a null CO 2 emissions balance since CO 2 emissions that occur as a result of its recovery as energy are offset by the amount absorbed by organisms for the production of biomass through photosynthesis.…”

“…According to this protocol, the CO 2 emissions limit for each nation must be estimated taking the carbon sinks and sources into account, including the carbon dioxide absorbed and stored by trees [1,2]. The carbon content in forests is the highest of all terrestrial ecosystems, being considerably higher than that in pastures and fields [3].…”