The Effect of Alternative Forest Management Models on the Forest Harvest and Emissions as Compared to the Forest Reference Level

Background and Objectives: Under the Paris Agreement, the European Union (EU) sets rules for accounting the greenhouse gas emissions and removals from forest land (FL). According to these rules, the average FL emissions of each member state in 2021–2025 (compliance period 1, CP1) and in 2026–2030 (compliance period 2, CP2) will be compared to a projected forest reference level (FRL). The FRL is estimated by modelling forest development under fixed forest management practices, based on those observed in 2000–2009. In this context, the objective of this study was to estimate the effects of large-scale uptake of alternative forest management models (aFMMs), developed in the ALTERFOR project (Alternative models and robust decision-making for future forest management), on forest harvest and forest carbon sink, considering that the proposed aFMMs are expanded to most of the suitable areas in EU27+UK and Turkey. Methods: We applied the Global Forest Model (G4M) for projecting the harvest and sink with the aFMMs and compared our results to previous FRL projections. The simulations were performed under the condition that the countries should match the harvest levels estimated for their FRLs as closely as possible. A representation of such aFMMs as clearcut, selective logging, shelterwood logging and tree species change was included in G4M. The aFMMs were modeled under four scenarios of spatial allocation and two scenarios of uptake rate. Finally, we compared our results to the business as usual. Results: The introduction of the aFMMs enhanced the forest sink in CP1 and CP2 in all studied regions when compared to the business as usual. Conclusions: Our results suggest that if a balanced mixture of aFMMs is chosen, a similar level of wood harvest can be maintained as in the FRL projection, while at the same time enhancing the forest sink. In particular, a mixture of multifunctional aFMMs, like selective logging and shelterwood, could enhance the carbon sink by up to 21% over the ALTERFOR region while limiting harvest leakages.

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An attempt to assess the monetary value of carbon absorbed in the Polish forest sector

Folia Forestalia Polonica ◽

10.2478/ffp-2018-0001 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 60 (1) ◽

pp. 3-10

Author(s):

Krzysztof Jabłoński ◽

Włodzimierz Stempski

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Forest Management ◽

Emissions Trading ◽

Carbon Sink ◽

High Price ◽

Reference Level ◽

Trading System ◽

Climate Convention ◽

Emissions Trading System ◽

The Eu

Abstract Forests and forest management play a vital role in capture and storage of carbon dioxide, which contributes to mitigation of climate change. Forests are not only a natural carbon sink. Proper forest management can enhance biomass production, providing wood to be converted into e.g. construction timber, paper and furniture as well as wood fuels and, as a result, considerably enlarge this carbon sink. Poland, being a party of the Climate Convention and Kyoto Protocol and a member of the EU is obliged to provide yearly reports on carbon emissions and sequestration, including the Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector, of which forestry is the leading constituent. Forests, with the sequestration rate at a level of 3.93 t CO2·ha−1 form practically the only important carbon sink in the LULUCF category. Unfortunately the LULUCF sector has not been yet included in the current climate policy framework. The purpose of the study was an attempt to estimate the hypothetical value of carbon stored in forestry, resulting from the reported quantities of the emitted and sequestered carbon. The calculations were based on figures included in the National Inventory Report for Poland, reported yearly to the Secretariat of the Climate Convention. Among the forestry carbon sources/sinks, reported annually, the sequestration resulting from forest management significantly exceeds the net sequestration from afforestation/deforestation activities. Average data from recent years show that forest management is a net CO2 sink, with 12 Mt CO2·y−1 (above the forest management reference level, FMRL), and when combined with the carbon pool change resulting from afforestation/deforestation activities, it can be regarded as a net carbon sink sequestering nearly 15 Mt CO2·y−1. That value, when multiplied by the price of carbon emission allowance (e.g. EUA), could be a source of over 80 mill Euros per year, if used as a commodity on the emissions market. Due to high price volatility of CO2 emission allowances, the calculated profits are hypothetical, and the EU Emissions Trading System does not include forestry. These potential gains can become realistic after the LULUCF sector has been included in the emissions trading system.

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Features of First Nation forest management institutions and implications for sustainability

The Forestry Chronicle ◽

10.5558/tfc75793-5 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 75 (5) ◽

pp. 793-798 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Leslie Treseder ◽

Naomi T. Krogman

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Forest Management ◽

First Nations ◽

Large Scale ◽

Management Practices ◽

Sustainable Forest Management ◽

Social Institutions ◽

First Nation ◽

Community Forests ◽

Industrial Forestry

This paper provides an overview of three approaches to forest management being applied by First Nations in Canada: industrial forestry, forest co-management and community forests. Industrial forestry, involving large-scale harvesting of timber, has been successful in increasing employment levels for some First Nations. However, industrial forestry is difficult to pursue due to the significant financial and timber resources it requires, and it may result in social conflicts between timber harvesters and traditional users of the forest. Forest co-management refers to shared management of forest resources by First Nations, government and/or industry. Benefits of co-management for First Nations can include better decision-making, increased employment opportunities, and cultural sensitivity toward First Nation forestry concerns. Disadvantages can include inequality of the partners in co-management arrangements and lack of public involvement in decision-making. Community forests often include local control, local investment of profits, and greater attention to the long term returns from the forest. The community forest approach may be hindered by a lack of profit, an absence of alternative tenure arrangements and other models to follow, and difficult access to financial resources and adequate land bases. The current state of institutional reform offers hope for the incorporation of Aboriginal objectives in sustainable forest management. New institutions can contribute to sustainability in forest-dependent Aboriginal communities by increasing commitment to and support of local forest management practices. Key Words: forest sociology, sustainable forest management, First Nations, social institutions, industrial forestry, forest co-management, community forests

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Expansion of US wood pellet industry points to positive trends but the need for continued monitoring

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-75403-z ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Francisco X. Aguilar ◽

Ashkan Mirzaee ◽

Ronald G. McGarvey ◽

Stephen R. Shifley ◽

Dallas Burtraw

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Management Practices ◽

Carbon Stocks ◽

The European Union ◽

Wood Fibers ◽

Wood Pellets ◽

Wood Pellet ◽

Growing Stock ◽

Dead Trees ◽

The Us

Abstract Implementation of the European Union Renewable Energy Directive has triggered exponential growth in trading of pelletized wood fibers. Over 18 million tons of wood pellets were traded by EU member countries in 2018 of which a third were imported from the US. Concerns exist about negative impacts on US forests but systematic assessments are currently lacking. We assessed variability in fundamental attributes for timberland structure and carbon stocks within 123 procurement landscapes of wood pellet mills derived from over 38 thousand forest inventory plots in the eastern US from 2005 to 2017. We found more carbon stocks in live trees, but a fewer number of standing-dead trees, associated with the annual operation of large-scale wood pellet mills. In the US coastal southeast—where US pellet exports to the EU originate—there were fewer live and growing-stock trees and less carbon in soils with every year of milling operation than in the rest of the eastern US—which supplies the domestic market. Greater overlap of mills’ procurement areas exhibited discernible increments across selected carbon stocks. These trends likely reflect more intensive land management practices. Localized forest impacts associated with the wood pellet industry should continue to be monitored.

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Setting the forest reference levels in the European Union: overview and challenges

Carbon Balance and Management ◽

10.1186/s13021-021-00185-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Matteo Vizzarri ◽

Roberto Pilli ◽

Anu Korosuo ◽

Viorel N. B. Blujdea ◽

Simone Rossi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Policy Development ◽

Management Practices ◽

Carbon Sink ◽

Growth Management ◽

Forest Growth ◽

Forest Carbon ◽

Data Availability ◽

The European Union ◽

Reference Levels ◽

Age Dynamics

Abstract Background The contribution of EU forests to climate change mitigation in 2021–2025 is assessed through the Forest Reference Levels (FRLs). The FRL is a projected country-level benchmark of net greenhouse gas emissions against which the future net emissions will be compared. The FRL models the hypothetical development of EU forest carbon sink if the historical management practices were continued, taking into account age dynamics. The Member States’ FRLs have been recently adopted by the European Commission with the delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/268 amending the Regulation (EU) 2018/841. Considering the complexity of interactions between forest growth, management and carbon fluxes, there is a need to understand uncertainties linked to the FRL determination. Results We assessed the methodologies behind the modelled FRLs and evaluated the foreseen impact of continuation of management practices and age dynamics on the near-future EU27 + UK forest carbon sink. Most of the countries implemented robust modelling approaches for simulating management practices and age dynamics within the FRL framework, but faced several challenges in ensuring consistency with historical estimates. We discuss that the projected 16% increase in harvest in 2021–2025 compared to 2000–2009, mostly attributed to age dynamics, is associated to a decline of 18% of forest sink (26% for living biomass only). Conclusions We conclude that the FRL exercise was challenging but improved the modelling capacity and data availability at country scale. The present study contributes to increase the transparency of the implementation of forest-related EU policies and provides evidence-based support to future policy development.

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Recovery Times and Sustainability in Logged-Over Natural Forests in the Caribbean

Forests ◽

10.3390/f11030256 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 256 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Sebastian Gräfe ◽

Claus-Martin Eckelmann ◽

Maureen Playfair ◽

Mike P. Oatham ◽

Ramon Pacheco ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Growth Rate ◽

Forest Management ◽

Large Scale ◽

Management Practices ◽

Sustainable Forest Management ◽

Management Approach ◽

Timber Production ◽

Managed Forests ◽

Private Forests ◽

Recovery Times

Despite the widespread use and strong promotion of the sustainable forest management approach, there are still uncertainties about the actual contribution of current forest management practices to sustainability. We studied the problem of sustainable timber production in four tropical countries (Belize, Guyana, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago). Data assessed on experimental plots covering 10 km2 were used to compare management practices of four forest tenure types that commonly exist in the study countries: large scale concessions (LSC), private forests (PR), periodic block system forests (PBS), and community managed forests (CM). As an indicator of sustainable timber production, we calculated the recovery times expected under the initial condition of the stands and compared them with currently practiced cutting cycles. Three growth scenarios were simulated using diameter growth rates (1.6/2.7/4.5 mm year−1) from empirical data from studies in the region. Initial volumes were determined for all commercial trees as well as for commercial trees with a DBH-threshold ≥45 cm. Highest initial volumes were found in LSC and PBS managed forests. Lowest volumes were found in CM and PR forests. Assuming the lowest growth rate for all commercial trees, none of the stands studied reached the initial pre-harvest volumes within the currently practiced cutting cycles. Assuming the highest growth rate for all trees, LSC, PBS, and PR forests reach the initial pre-harvest volume. Looking at the subset of commercial trees with a DBH ≥45 cm, all stands will reach the initial volume within 30 years only if the highest growth rate is assumed. We show that general harvest codes do not guarantee sustainable forest management in the tropics. Local stand conditions must always be one of the guiding principles of sustainable timber utilization. Applying the rigid rules, which do not take into account the current conditions of the stands, entails long-term risk of forest degradation.

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Soil erosion is unlikely to drive a future carbon sink in Europe

Science Advances ◽

10.1126/sciadv.aau3523 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4 (11) ◽

pp. eaau3523 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Emanuele Lugato ◽

Pete Smith ◽

Pasquale Borrelli ◽

Panos Panagos ◽

Cristiano Ballabio ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Erosion ◽

Large Scale ◽

Agricultural Soils ◽

Carbon Sink ◽

Rainfall Erosivity ◽

The European Union ◽

Model Framework ◽

Erosion Rates ◽

C Cycle ◽

The Impact

Understanding of the processes governing soil organic carbon turnover is confounded by the fact that C feedbacks driven by soil erosion have not yet been fully explored at large scale. However, in a changing climate, variation in rainfall erosivity (and hence soil erosion) may change the amount of C displacement, hence inducing feedbacks onto the land C cycle. Using a consistent biogeochemistry-erosion model framework to quantify the impact of future climate on the C cycle, we show that C input increases were offset by higher heterotrophic respiration under climate change. Taking into account all the additional feedbacks and C fluxes due to displacement by erosion, we estimated a net source of 0.92 to 10.1 Tg C year−1 from agricultural soils in the European Union to the atmosphere over the period 2016–2100. These ranges represented a weaker and stronger C source compared to a simulation without erosion (1.8 Tg C year−1), respectively, and were dependent on the erosion-driven C loss parameterization, which is still very uncertain. However, when setting a baseline with current erosion rates, the accelerated erosion scenario resulted in 35% more eroded C, but its feedback on the C cycle was marginal. Our results challenge the idea that higher erosion driven by climate will lead to a C sink in the near future.

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A Forestry Canada Approach to Environmental Forestry

The Forestry Chronicle ◽

10.5558/tfc66138-2 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 66 (2) ◽

pp. 138-142

Author(s):

J. Peter Hall ◽

L. W. Carlson ◽

D. E. Dube

Keyword(s):

Forest Management ◽

Forest Ecosystem ◽

Large Scale ◽

Management Practices ◽

Future Generations ◽

Forest Environment ◽

Commercial Exploitation ◽

Continued Use ◽

Healthy Functioning ◽

Environmentally Sound

The continued use and development of the forest environment requires that it be treated in a manner that ensures sustainable development. The forest ecosystem available for commercial exploitation has been shown to be finite and human intervention on a large scale is needed to replace, renew and rehabilitate these forests. An environmental forestry research program must have as its goal a sustainable forest. To attain this, research must be conducted on the forest ecosystem, on monitoring and characterizing the forest, on protecting the forest and on renewing the forest. This constitutes the Forestry Canada program. This research will assist in the development of practices needed for the healthy functioning of the forest ecosystem, for industrial forest management, recreational forestry and the preservation of our forests for future generations. Forestry Canada has made major contributions in the whole field of environmental protection of the forest ecosystem. The examples presented here demonstrate Forestry Canada's commitment to environmentally-sound forest management practices. Those practices allow development of the forest for the benefit of all Canadians and for the forest.

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The Role of Forests in Climate Change Mitigation: The EU Context

10.1007/978-3-030-80767-2_15 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 507-520

Author(s):

Matteo Vizzarri ◽

Roberto Pilli ◽

Anu Korosuo ◽

Ludovico Frate ◽

Giacomo Grassi

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Carbon Sink ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Forest Growth ◽

Carbon Accumulation ◽

Reference Level ◽

Forest Sector ◽

The European Union ◽

Carbon Neutrality ◽

The Eu

AbstractThe European Union (EU) aims at reaching carbon neutrality by 2050. Within the land use, land-use change, and forestry (LULUCF) sector, forestry will contribute to this target with CO2 sink, harvested wood products (HWP), and use of wood for material or energy substitution. Despite the fact that the forest sink currently offsets about 9% of the total EU GHG emissions, evaluating its future mitigation potential is challenging because of the complex interactions between human and natural impacts on forest growth and carbon accumulation. The Regulation (EU) 2018/841 has improved robustness, accuracy, and credibility of the accounting of GHG emissions and removals in the LULUCF sector. For the forest sector, the accounting is based on the Forest Reference Level (FRL), i.e., a projected country-specific value of GHG emissions and removals against which the actual GHG emissions and removals will be compared. The resulting difference will count toward the EU GHG target for the period 2021–2030. Here, we provide an overview of the contribution of forests and HWP to the EU carbon sink for the period 2021–2025 (proposed FRLs) and focus on the contribution of mountain forests to the EU carbon sink, through exploring co-benefits and adverse side effects between climate regulation and other ecosystem services.

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Economic Analyses of Wood Chip Mill Expansion in North Carolina: Implications for Nonindustrial Private Forest (NIPF) Management

Southern Journal of Applied Forestry ◽

10.1093/sjaf/30.2.102 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 30 (2) ◽

pp. 102-108 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Anthony G. Snider ◽

Frederick W. Cubbage

Keyword(s):

North Carolina ◽

Forest Management ◽

Large Scale ◽

Management Practices ◽

Wood Chip ◽

Economic Benefits ◽

Private Forest ◽

Economic Returns ◽

Discounted Cash Flow ◽

Nonindustrial Private Forest

Abstract Potential economic benefits of wood chip mills in North Carolina and likely forest management changes for nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) landowners were analyzed. The net effects of wood chip mills provided a small net stumpage price increase (1.9%) benefit to forest landowners, had very small economic welfare effects on total economic returns to timber producers and consumers (>0.1%), and had a moderate impact on reducing aggregate site preparation costs (11.6%). Discounted cash-flow analyses indicated that wood chip markets would increase returns somewhat more for pine management than for hardwood management, but the much greater sawtimber prices, especially for pines, still would favor long rotations and pine management. These analyses indicate that markets provided by wood chip mills would tend to create more harvest of pulpwood as part of existing harvests or in new timber harvests of small stands, but would not be likely to encourage clearcutting of much more valuable sawtimber stands or large-scale changes in forest management practices.

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Forestry and water budget of the lowlands in northeast Germany — consequences for the choice of tree species and for forest management

Journal of Water and Land Development ◽

10.2478/v10025-010-0024-7 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 13a (1) ◽

pp. 133-148 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Jürgen Müller

Keyword(s):

Forest Management ◽

Tree Species ◽

Water Budget ◽

Large Scale ◽

Management Practices ◽

Tree Canopy ◽

Soil Conditions ◽

Seepage Water ◽

High Porosity ◽

Mixed Stands

Forestry and water budget of the lowlands in northeast Germany — consequences for the choice of tree species and for forest management The lowlands in northeast Germany are among the driest and at the same time the most densely wooded regions in Germany. Low annual precipitation between 500 and 600 mm and the light sandy soils with their low water storage capacity and high porosity lead to limited water availability. Therefore the hydrological functions of forests play an important role in the fields of regional water budget, water supply and water distribution. To investigate the water consumption of different tree species, lysimeters were installed at Britz near Eberswalde under comparable site conditions. Nine large-scale lysimeters, each with an area of 100 m2 and 5 m deep, were built in the early 1970s. In 1974 the lysimeters were planted with Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), common beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), larch (Larix decidua L.) and Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) as experimental stands of 0.3 ha each according to the usual management practices. The areas surrounding the lysimeters were planted similarly. The tree species is of outstanding importance for deep seepage under forest stands. Under the given precipitation and soil conditions, the course of interception and hence, the amount of seepage water depend on the crown structure in the stand. Depending on the amount of interception of the tree canopy and the duration of the leaching phase in spring, the mixed stands range between pure pine and pure beech. Making use of silvicultural methods and adequate stand treatment, forestry is able to control the water budget of landscapes.

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