Integrating Products, Emission Offsets, and Wildfire into Carbon Assessments of Inland Northwest Forests
Keywords:
Inland Northwest, LCI, LCA, wildfire risk reduction, forest, wood product substitution, fossil fuel displacementAbstract
Forest inventory and harvest data from life-cycle inventory and life-cycle assessment for the forest resources of the Inland Northwest region covering Idaho, Montana, and eastern Washington were used to estimate the impacts of management action on the full suite of carbon accounts that can accrue from forest management. The carbon accounts include the forest, wood products, the benefit gained from using wood products as substitutes for alternative products that are fossil fuel-intensive to produce, and the displacement value of using woody biomass to replace fossil fuel. A landscape-level assessment of projected carbon storage by owner group shows that in 100 yr, management on State and Private Forests can sequester or avoid emissions equal to 294 t/ha of carbon, which equals over 1.9 Gt of carbon across 6.5 Mha. Seventy-nine percent of the carbon accumulates beyond current forest carbon inventories. On National Forests, carbon sequestration and avoided emissions are 152 t/ha over 11 Mha of unreserved forests equaling 1.4 Gt of carbon under predictions for a doubling of the 20th century fire rate. The carbon storage in buildings and the substitution benefits override the potential gains of attempting to leave high carbon stocks stored in the forest in this region where disturbance from fire and insect outbreaks dominates the forest ability to sequester carbon.References
Aber JD, Melillo JM (1991) Terrestrial ecosystems. Saunders College Publishing, Philadelphia, PA. 429 pp.nAdams AB, Harrison RB, Sletten RS, Strahm BD, Turnblom EC, Jensen CM (2005) Nitrogen-fertilization impacts on carbon sequestration and flux in managed coastal Douglas-fir stands of the Pacific Northwest. For Ecol Mgmt 220(1-3):313-325.nAgee JK (1993) Fire ecology of Pacific Northwest forests. Island Press, Washington, DC. 493 pp.nAgee JK (2002) The fallacy of passive management. Conservat Biol PractSer 3(1):18-25.nAllen CD, Breshears DD (1998) Drought-induced shift of a forest-woodland ecotone: Rapid landscape response to climate variation. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 95(25): 14839-14842.nBaird M, Zabowski D, Everett RL (1999) Wildfire effects on carbon and nitrogen in inland coniferous forests. Plant Soil 209(2):233-243.nBonnicksen TM (2008) Greenhouse gas emissions from four California wildfires: Opportunities to prevent and reverse environmental and climate impacts. FCEM Rpt No 2, Forest Foundation, Auburn, CA. 18 pp.nBonnicksen TM (2009) Wildfires and insects threaten future timber supplies and our climate. Presentation at SWST International Convention; 24 June 2009; Boise, ID.nBormann BT, Homann PS, Darbyshire RL, Morrissette BA (2008) Intense forest wildfire sharply reduces mineral soil C and N: The first direct evidence. Can J Res 38: 2771-2783.nBradford J, Weishampel P, Smith ML, Kolka R, Birdsey RA, Ollinger SV, Ryan MG (2009) Detrital carbon pools in temperate forests: Magnitude and potential for landscapescale assessment. Can J Res 39(4):802-813.nBreshears DD, Myers OB, Meyer CW, Barnes FJ, Zou CB, Allen CD, McDowell NG, Pockman WT (2009) Tree die-off in response to global change-type drought: Mortality insights from a decade of plant water potential measurements. Front Ecol Environ 7(4):185-189.nCalkin DE, Gebert KM, Jones JG, Neilson RP (2005) Forest service large fire area burned and suppression expenditure trends 1970-2002. J Forestry 103(4):179-183.nCamp A, Oliver C, Hessburg P, Everett R (1997) Predicting late-successional fire refugia pre-dating European settlement in the Wenatchee Mountains. For Ecol Manag 95(1):63-77.nCanary JD, Harrison RB, Compton JE, Chappell HN (2000) Additional carbon sequestration following repeated urea fertilization of second-growth Douglas-fir stands in western Washington. For Ecol Manag 138:225-232.nCarroll AL, Taylor SW, Regniere J, Safranyik L (2003) Effects of climate change on range expansion by the mountain pine beetle in British Columbia. Pages 223-232 in TL Shore, JE Brooks, and JE Stone, eds. Mountain Pine Beetle Symposium: Challenges and Solutions. 30-31 October 2003; Kelowna, British Columbia. Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Pacific Forestry Centre, Information Report BC-X-399, Victoria, BC. 298 pp.nCromack K Jr., Landsberg JD, Everett RL, Zeleny R, Giardina CP, Strand EK, Anderson TD, Averill R, Smyrski R (2000) Assessing the impacts of severe fire on forest ecosystem recovery. J Sustain For 11(1/2):177-227.nEastin I, Ganguly I, Sasatani D, Lippke B (2007) Study 3 of the future of Washington's forests and forest industries. College of Forest Resources, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. http://www.ruraltech.org/projects/fwaf/final_report/index.asp'>http://www.ruraltech.org/projects/fwaf/final_report/index.aspnEverett R, Baumgartner D, Ohlson P, Schellhaas R (2008) Structural classes and age structure in 1860 and 1940 reconstructed fir-pine stands of eastern Washington. West N Am Nat 68(3):278-290.nFellows AW, Goulden ML (2008) Has fire suppression increased the amount of carbon stored in western US forests? Geophys Res Lett 35(L12404): doi: 10.1029/2008GL033965.nFIA (2009) USFS Forest Inventory and Analysis Program Timber Products Output Online Reporting Tool. http://srsfia2.fs.fed.us/php/tpo_2009/tpo_rpa_int2.php'>http://srsfia2.fs.fed.us/php/tpo_2009/tpo_rpa_int2.phpnFredeen AL, Bois CH, Janzen DT, Sanborn PT (2005) Comparison of coniferous forest carbon stocks between old-growth and young second-growth forests on two soil types in central British Columbia, Canada. Can J Res 35(6):1411-1421.nGedalof Z, Peterson DL, Mantua NJ (2005) Atmospheric, climatic, and ecological controls on extreme wildfire years in the Northwestern United States. Ecol Appl 15:154-174.nGibson K (2006) Mountain pine beetle conditions in white-bark pine stands in the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem, 2006, USDA For Serv Northern Region, Numbered Report 06-03 http://www.fs.fed.us/r1-r4/spf/fhp/publications/bystate/R1Pub06-03_MPB_Yellowstone_gibson.pdf'>http://www.fs.fed.us/r1-r4/spf/fhp/publications/bystate/R1Pub06-03_MPB_Yellowstone_gibson.pdfnHelvey JD, Tiedemann AR, Anderson TD (1985) Plant nutrient losses by soil erosion and mass movement after wildfire. J Soil Water Conserv 40(1):168-173.nIPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) (1996) Technologies, policies and measures for mitigating climate change. http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/technical-papers/paper-I-en.pdf'>http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/technical-papers/paper-I-en.pdfnIPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) (2001) Climate change 2001: Synthesis report, summary for policy makers, as approved in detail at IPCC Plenary XVIII (Wembley, United Kingdom; 24-29 September 2001) http://www.grida.no/climate/ipcc_tar/vol4/english/pdf/spm.pdf'>http://www.grida.no/climate/ipcc_tar/vol4/english/pdf/spm.pdfnIPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) (2007) Summary to policy makers. http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/syr/ar4_syr.pdf'>http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/syr/ar4_syr.pdfnJenkins JC, Chojnacky DC, Heath LS, Birdsey RA (2003) National-scale biomass estimators for United States tree species. For Sci 49(1):12-35.nJohnson DW, Curtis PS (2001) Effects of forest management on soil C and N storage: Meta-analysis. For Ecol Manag 140(2-3):227-238.nJohnson LR, Lippke B, Marshall JD, Comnick J (2005) Life-cycle impacts of forest resource activities in the Pacific Northwest and Southeast United States. Wood Fiber Sci 37(CORRIM Special Issue):30-46.nLippke B, Comnick J, Mason CL, Stokes B (2008) Impacts of thinning intensity and implementation schedules on fire, carbon storage, and economics. Pages 47-59 in JR Shelly, ME Puettmann, KE Skog, and HS Han, eds. Woody biomass utilization: Challenges and opportunities; 26 June 2006; Newport Beach, CA. Forest Products Soc, Madison, WI.nLippke B, Edmonds L (2006) Environmental performance improvement in residential construction: The impact of products, biofuels and processes (a Phase 2 research module). Forest Prod J 56(10):58-63.nLippke B, Mason CL, Zobrist K, Ceder K, Oneil E, McCarter JB, Imaki H, Sullivan A (2007) Study 1 of The Future of Washington's Forests and Forest Industries. College of Forest Resources, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. http://www.ruraltech.org/projects/fwaf/final_report/index.asp'>http://www.ruraltech.org/projects/fwaf/final_report/index.aspnLittell JS, Oneil EE, McKenzie D, Hicke JA, Lutz JA, Norheim RA, Elsner MM (2009a) Forest ecosystems, disturbance, and climatic change in Washington State, USA. Chapter 7 of the Washington Climate Change Impacts Assessment Report, Climate Impacts Group, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. http://cses.washington.edu/cig/res/ia/waccia.shtml'>http://cses.washington.edu/cig/res/ia/waccia.shtmlnLittell JS, McKenzie D, Peterson DL, Westerling AL (2009b) Climate and wildfire area burned in western US ecoprovinces, 1916-2003. Ecol Appl 19(4):1003-1021.nMason CL, Lippke BR, Zobrist KW, Bloxton TD, Ceder KR, Comnick JM, McCarter JB, Rogers HK (2006) Investments in fuel removals to avoid forest fires result in substantial benefits. J Forestry 104(1):27-31.nMcCarter JB, Wilson JS, Baker PJ, Moffett JL, Oliver CD (1998) Landscape management through integration of existing tools and emerging technologies. J Forestry 96(6):17-23.nMcKenzie D, Gedalof Z, Peterson DL, Mote P (2004) Climatic change, wildfire, and conservation. Conserv Biol 18(4):890-902.nMilota MR, West CD, Hartley ID (2005) Gate-to-gate life-cycle inventory of softwood lumber production. Wood Fiber Sci 37(CORRIM Special Issue):47-57.nNIFC (2009) National Interagency Fire Center wildland fire statistics. http://www.nifc.gov'>http://www.nifc.govnOneil EE (2006) Developing stand density thresholds to address mountain pine beetle susceptibility in eastern Washington forests. PhD Dissertation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. 99 pp.nOneil EE (2010) University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Unpublished work.nOneil EE, Johnson LR, Lippke BR, McCarter JB, McDill ME, Roth PA, Finley JC (2010) Life-cycle impacts of inland northwest and northeast/north central forest resources. Wood Fiber Sci 42(CORRIM Special Issue):29-51.nPerez-Garcia J, Lippke B, Comnick J, Manriquez C (2005a) An assessment of carbon pools, storage, and wood products market substitution using life-cycle analysis results. Wood Fiber Sci 37(CORRIM Special Issue):140-148.nPerez-Garcia J, Lippke B, Briggs D, Wilson J, Bowyer J, Meil J (2005b) The environmental performance of renewable building materials in the context of residential construction. Wood Fiber Sci 37(CORRIM Special Issue):3-17.nPuettmann ME, Wagner FG, Johnson L (2010a) Life cycle inventory of softwood lumber from the inland northwest US. Wood Fiber Sci 42(CORRIM Special Issue):52-66.nPuettmann ME, Bergman R, Hubbard S, Johnson L, Lippke B, Oneil E, Wagner FG (2010b) Cradle-to-gate life-cycle inventory of US wood products production: CORRIM Phase I and Phase II products. Wood Fiber Sci 42(CORRIM Special Issue):15-28.nPuettmann M, Wilson J (2005) Life-cycle analysis of wood products: Cradle-to-gate LCI of residential building materials. Wood Fiber Sci 37(CORRIM Special Issue):18-29.nRebain SA (comp) (2009) The fire and fuels extension to the forest vegetation simulator: Updated Model Documentation (Last revised: November 2009). Internal Rep, USDA For Serv FMSC, Fort Collins, CO. 364 pp.nRehfeldt GE, Crookston NL, Warwell MV, Evans JS (2006) Empirical analysis of plant-climate relationships for the western United States. Int J Plant Sci 167(6):1123-1150.nReinhardt E, Crookston NL (Tech Eds) (2003) The Fire and Fuels Extension to the Forest Vegetation Simulator. Gen Tech Rep RMRS-GTR-116. USDA For Serv RMRS, Ogden, UT. 209 pp.nSampson RN, Smith MS, Gann SB (2001) Western forest health and biomass energy potential: A report to the Oregon Office of Energy. Oregon Office of Energy, Salem, OR. 53 pp.nSathre R, O'Connor J (2008) A synthesis of research on wood products and greenhouse gas impacts. Technical report TR-19, FPInnovations-Forintek Division, Vancouver, BC. 74 pp.nSchmidt KM, Menakis JP, Hardy CC, Hann WJ, Bunnell DL (2002) Development of coarse-scale spatial data for wildland fire and fuel management. Gen Tech Rep RMRS-87. USDA Forest Service RMRS, Ft Collins, CO. 41 pp.nSkog K (2008) Sequestration of carbon in harvested wood products for the United States. Forest Prod J 58(6):56-72.nTer-Mikaelian MT, Colombo SJ, Chen JX (2008) Fact and fantasy about forest carbon. For Chron 84(2):166-171.nUSFS (2002) The process predicament—How statutory, regulatory, and administrative factors affect national forest management. USDA For Ser WO, Washington, DC. http://www.fs.fed.us/projects/documents/Process-Predicament.pdf'>http://www.fs.fed.us/projects/documents/Process-Predicament.pdfnWesterling AL, Hidalgo HG, Cayan DR, Swetnam TW (2006) Warming and earlier spring increase western US forest wildfire activity. Science 313(5789):940-943.nWiedinmyer C, Quayle B, Geron C, Belote A, McKenzie D, Zhang X, O'Neill S, Klos Wynne K (2006) Estimating emissions from fires in North America for air quality modeling. Atmos Environ 40(19):3419-3432.nWilson JB, Sakimoto ET (2005) Gate-to-gate life-cycle inventory of softwood plywood production. Wood Fiber Sci 37(CORRIM Special Issue):58-74.nWinistorfer P, Chen Z, Lippke B, Stevens N (2005) Energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions related to the use, maintenance and disposal of a residential structure. Wood Fiber Sci 37(CORRIM Special Issue):128-139.nWykoff WR, Crookston NL, Stage AR (1982) User's guide to the Stand Prognosis Model. Gen Tech Rep INT-133 USDA For Serv Inter For and Rg Exp Stn, Ogden, UT. 112 pp.n
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
The copyright of an article published in Wood and Fiber Science is transferred to the Society of Wood Science and Technology (for U. S. Government employees: to the extent transferable), effective if and when the article is accepted for publication. This transfer grants the Society of Wood Science and Technology permission to republish all or any part of the article in any form, e.g., reprints for sale, microfiche, proceedings, etc. However, the authors reserve the following as set forth in the Copyright Law:
1. All proprietary rights other than copyright, such as patent rights.
2. The right to grant or refuse permission to third parties to republish all or part of the article or translations thereof. In the case of whole articles, such third parties must obtain Society of Wood Science and Technology written permission as well. However, the Society may grant rights with respect to Journal issues as a whole.
3. The right to use all or part of this article in future works of their own, such as lectures, press releases, reviews, text books, or reprint books.
