Development of a Forest Development of a Forest Carbon Sequestration Carbon Sequestration

Protocol Protocol for the State of Georgiafor the State of Georgia

J. Siry, P. Bettinger, B. Borders, C. Cieszewski, M. Clutter, J. Siry, P. Bettinger, B. Borders, C. Cieszewski, M. Clutter, B. Izlar, D. Markewitz, R. TeskeyB. Izlar, D. Markewitz, R. Teskey

Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of GeorgiaUniversity of Georgia

Carbon Registry Public Hearing, StatesboroCarbon Registry Public Hearing, StatesboroFebruary 12, 2007February 12, 2007

ObjectivesObjectives

Develop reliable and cost-effective Develop reliable and cost-effective methods for measuring carbon methods for measuring carbon stocks and flowsstocks and flows Tree carbon Tree carbon Soil carbon Soil carbon Carbon stored in post-harvest sinks Carbon stored in post-harvest sinks

(forest products)(forest products) Monitoring carbon storage with remote Monitoring carbon storage with remote

sensingsensing Carbon trading websiteCarbon trading website

Values and CostsValues and Costs

Currently, carbon sequestered in trees is a Currently, carbon sequestered in trees is a low value commoditylow value commodity

Participation will be limited if cost excessiveParticipation will be limited if cost excessive Tree carbon estimation essentially an Tree carbon estimation essentially an

inventory probleminventory problem Typical timber inventory 1 plot for every 1 to Typical timber inventory 1 plot for every 1 to

4 acres at more than $10 per plot4 acres at more than $10 per plot If stand is producing 1 to 2 tons of carbon per If stand is producing 1 to 2 tons of carbon per

ac/yr landowners unlikely to spend money on ac/yr landowners unlikely to spend money on carbon estimatescarbon estimates

ApproachApproach Identify stand typesIdentify stand types

Species, site quality, age, density, and Species, site quality, age, density, and physiographic provincephysiographic province

Estimate above ground green tons of stem Estimate above ground green tons of stem wood with growth and yield functionswood with growth and yield functions

Convert green tons to carbon using Convert green tons to carbon using conversion factorsconversion factors

Obtain below ground tree carbon as a Obtain below ground tree carbon as a function of above ground tree carbon (e.g. function of above ground tree carbon (e.g. 20%)20%)

Obtain soil carbon estimates in a similar Obtain soil carbon estimates in a similar mannermanner

Tree CarbonTree Carbon

Major stand categories developed for all Major stand categories developed for all major timber types in Georgiamajor timber types in Georgia

Carbon tables developed for major timber Carbon tables developed for major timber typestypes

Protocols Protocols For entities with reliable inventory For entities with reliable inventory

informationinformation For entities without reliable inventory For entities without reliable inventory

informationinformation Verification at the end of contractVerification at the end of contract

Tree CarbonTree CarbonWith Reliable InventoryWith Reliable Inventory

Stand level probability samples available Stand level probability samples available Conducted by registered foresterConducted by registered forester < 10 years< 10 years Sample precision <= 15%Sample precision <= 15%

Procedure for calculating tree carbon from Procedure for calculating tree carbon from inventory inventory Wood and bark into green tons of wood by productWood and bark into green tons of wood by product Green tons into dry tonsGreen tons into dry tons Dry tons into carbonDry tons into carbon Estimation of current levels (accumulation from Estimation of current levels (accumulation from

inventory date)inventory date) Carbon tablesCarbon tables Growth and yield softwareGrowth and yield software

Tree CarbonTree CarbonWithout Reliable InventoryWithout Reliable Inventory

Register forester examines the stand and identifiesRegister forester examines the stand and identifies Major speciesMajor species Stand origin (planted cutover site, planted ag. field, Stand origin (planted cutover site, planted ag. field,

natural)natural) Stand ageStand age Site quality (low 52, medium 62, high 72 at 25 for pine)Site quality (low 52, medium 62, high 72 at 25 for pine) Stand density (low, high)Stand density (low, high) Thinning condition (pine stands only)Thinning condition (pine stands only) Management intensity (planted pine only)Management intensity (planted pine only) Level of genetic improvementLevel of genetic improvement

Use carbon table to assess carbon sequesteredUse carbon table to assess carbon sequestered Also use carbon table to assess expected carbon Also use carbon table to assess expected carbon

accumulationaccumulation

Carbon Table

Loblolly, Natural, SI Low, Low Intensity Mngt, Unimproved genetics, Regional avg., No Thinning

Age Pulp Wood C Saw Timber C

-------tons-C/acre-------

10 0.16 0

15 2.42 0

20 5.67 0

25 8.66 0.35

30 10.6 1.38

35 11.66 2.78

40 11.75 4.63

45 11.22 6.63

50 10.44 8.48

55 9.6 10.07

Belowground Carbon Belowground Carbon Belowground Biomass (Roots)Belowground Biomass (Roots)

Research across a broad range of species on many Research across a broad range of species on many sites indicates that ~20% of total tree biomass is sites indicates that ~20% of total tree biomass is belowground (roots)belowground (roots)

Apply factor of 1.25 to merchantable volume to get Apply factor of 1.25 to merchantable volume to get an estimate of total carbon sequestered on forested an estimate of total carbon sequestered on forested sitessites

Soil carbon (mineral soils) Soil carbon (mineral soils) Hard to assess the quantitative rate at which soil Hard to assess the quantitative rate at which soil

can sequester carboncan sequester carbon Agreement on afforested ag. fields (min. 10 years in Agreement on afforested ag. fields (min. 10 years in

ag) carbon accumulation – 0.15 Mg per ha per year ag) carbon accumulation – 0.15 Mg per ha per year for 50 yearsfor 50 years

Carbon in Forest Carbon in Forest ProductsProducts

Allocation of carbon from trees to end Allocation of carbon from trees to end use products and carbon disposition over use products and carbon disposition over timetime Industrial roundwood harvest approachIndustrial roundwood harvest approach Primary wood products approachPrimary wood products approach

Using TPO studies for Georgia to identify Using TPO studies for Georgia to identify preferable approach and regional detail preferable approach and regional detail (statewide vs. sub-regions)(statewide vs. sub-regions)

USFS data region-wideUSFS data region-wide

Carbon in Forest Carbon in Forest ProductsProductsCarbon Disposition, Softwood sawlog, 0-100

years

Age In use Landfill Energy Emitted

1 0.601 0.017 0.270 0.112

5 0.493 0.068 0.303 0.136

10 0.402 0.110 0.331 0.157

15 0.345 0.136 0.347 0.172

20 0.306 0.153 0.357 0.184

25 0.276 0.166 0.364 0.194

30 0.251 0.176 0.370 0.203

Remote SensingRemote Sensing

Protocol for monitoring forest carbon Protocol for monitoring forest carbon with remote sensing and GIS with remote sensing and GIS database analysisdatabase analysis Individual landownersIndividual landowners GFC monitoringGFC monitoring

Broad Scale Monitoring Broad Scale Monitoring Satellite imagery Satellite imagery Identification of changes in vegetation Identification of changes in vegetation

densitydensity

Remote SensingRemote Sensing

Initial VerificationInitial Verification Forest cover / no forest coverForest cover / no forest cover Softwood / hardwoodSoftwood / hardwood Young / old (possibly)Young / old (possibly)

Change detectionChange detection Identify clear cuts and partial cuts Identify clear cuts and partial cuts

Continuing WorkContinuing Work

Testing and implementation Testing and implementation ReliabilityReliability PrecisionPrecision

Estimate and register sequestered Estimate and register sequestered forest carbon with cooperating forest forest carbon with cooperating forest landownerslandowners

Develop training and certification Develop training and certification programsprograms

Complete the websiteComplete the website