Climate Change and Carbon Management

1. Climate Change and Carbon Management USDA Forest Service Research and Development Dr. Richard A. Birdsey Dr. Alexander L. Friend Northeast Research Station North Central Research Station Forest Service Centennial Congress January 3-6, 2005

2. Carbon and Climate Atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) has increased by 25% since 1900. Global temperature has increased by about 1.5F since 1880. Source: Keeling, Whorf, and the Carbon Dioxide Research Group http://cdiac.esd.ornl.gov/ftp/trends/co2/maunaloa.co2; Friedli et al. (1996) http://cdiac.ornl.gov/ftp/trends/co2/siple2.013

3. How could vegetation change with increasing CO2 and warmer temps? Current Climate Warmer and wetter Warmer and dryer From Ron Neilson

4. Through photo-synthesis, trees remove CO2 from the atmosphere and store it. This “carbon sequestration” slows the build-up of CO2 in the atmosphere. The Link Between Forests and Carbon CO2

5. Carbon is stored in a variety of places… Standing dead trees Live trees Down dead wood Understory Soil organic carbon (1 m) Forest floor From Linda Heath

6. Role of U.S. Forests in Reducing Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide • U.S. forests capture about 2 billion tons of carbon every 10 years, and counteract 10% of our fossil fuel emissions. • This increase reflects the fact that U.S. forest growth has been increasing over the past 50 years. Billion tons Increasing carbon stocks in U.S. forests(excludes soil carbon) Heath and Smith 2003

7. How Can We Manage Carbon? • Storage of carbon in forests and wood products removes it from the atmosphere. • Using wood for energy replaces fossil fuel; and CO2 emitted is reabsorbed by forests. Carbon Sequestration Bioenergy

8. Carbon Management Opens New Horizons • Carbon has economic value—about $2/ton in the United States • Markets are developing for trading carbon credits (e.g., Chicago Climate Exchange) • Carbon management of forests results in other societal benefits: • Timber production • Biomass energy • Ecological restoration • Preservation • Clean water and air

9. Ecosystem ServicesCapturing the financial benefits of a forest ecosystem’s goods and services • In addition to timber, forests provide many benefits: • Clean water • Wildlife habitat • Recreation • Carbon sequestration • The economic value of non-timber benefits is substantial: • Carbon sequestration by U.S. forests may be worth more than $1,000,000,000/year • Some Ecosystem Services can be traded in the market place like other commodities.

10. National Plan for Reducing CO2 Emissions • Guidelines for reporting green-house gas emissions are being revised by a joint USDOE/USDA effort • CO2 is the focus • Program is voluntary • Entities that register real increases in carbon storage may receive transferable credits • Plan facilitates new targeted incentives for carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas reductions

11. In Summary • Forests can help remove excess CO2 from our atmosphere while improving the quality of life for all of us. Acknowledgments: Funding for this exhibit and the programs represented from USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station, North Central Research Station, National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, and Michigan Technological University.