Climate Change Impacts in the United States Third National Climate Assessment [Name] [Date] Forests

Forests Convening Lead Authors – Linda A. Joyce, U.S. Forest Service – Steven W. Running, University of Montana Lead Authors – David D. Breshears, University of Arizona – Virginia H. Dale, Oak Ridge National Laboratory – Robert W. Malmsheimer, SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry – R. Neil Sampson, Vision Forestry, LLC – Brent Sohngen, Ohio State University – Christopher W. Woodall, U.S. Forest Service

Increasing Forest Disturbances Climate change is increasing the vulnerability of many forests to ecosystem changes and tree mortality through fire, insect infestations, drought, and disease outbreaks.

Forest Ecosystem Disturbances Figure source: modified from Goetz et al. 2012, 18 Copyright 2012 American Geophysical Union 18

Effectiveness of Forest Management in Reducing Wildfire Risk Photo credit: Jim Youtz, U.S. Forest Service

Forest Vulnerability to Changing Climate Figure source: Allen et al. 2010

Changing Carbon Uptake U.S. forests and associated wood products currently absorb and store the equivalent of about 16% of all carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emitted by fossil fuel burning in the U.S. each year. Climate change, combined with current societal trends in land use and forest management, is projected to reduce this rate of forest CO 2 uptake.

Forests can be a Source - or a Sink - for Carbon Figure source: adapted from Vose et al. 2012

Forest Growth Provides an Important Carbon Sink Figure source: adapted from Running et al. 2004

Forests and Carbon Data from EPA 2013; USFS 2012; Birdsey 2006

Bioenergy Potential Bioenergy could emerge as a new market for wood and could aid in the restoration of forests killed by drought, insects, and fire.

Location of Potential Forestry Biomass Resources Figure source: adapted from U.S. Department of Energy 2011

Influences on Management Choices Forest management responses to climate change will be influenced by the changing nature of private forestland ownership, globalization of forestry markets, emerging markets for bioenergy, and U.S. climate change policy.

Public and Private Forestlands Figure source: U.S. Forest Service 2012

Climate Change Impacts in the United States Third National Climate facebook.com/usgcrp #NCA2014 [Name & Contact Info]