Development of a Forest Carbon Sequestration Protocol for the State of Georgia J. Siry, P. Bettinger, B. Borders, C. Cieszewski, M. Clutter, B. Izlar, D. Markewitz, R. Teskey Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia Carbon Registry Public Hearing, Statesboro February 12, 2007

Objectives Develop reliable and cost-effective methods for measuring carbon stocks and flows Develop reliable and cost-effective methods for measuring carbon stocks and flows Tree carbon Tree carbon Soil carbon Soil carbon Carbon stored in post-harvest sinks (forest products) Carbon stored in post-harvest sinks (forest products) Monitoring carbon storage with remote sensing Monitoring carbon storage with remote sensing Carbon trading website Carbon trading website

Values and Costs Currently, carbon sequestered in trees is a low value commodity Currently, carbon sequestered in trees is a low value commodity Participation will be limited if cost excessive Participation will be limited if cost excessive Tree carbon estimation essentially an inventory problem Tree carbon estimation essentially an inventory problem Typical timber inventory 1 plot for every 1 to 4 acres at more than $10 per plot Typical timber inventory 1 plot for every 1 to 4 acres at more than $10 per plot If stand is producing 1 to 2 tons of carbon per ac/yr landowners unlikely to spend money on carbon estimates If stand is producing 1 to 2 tons of carbon per ac/yr landowners unlikely to spend money on carbon estimates

Approach Identify stand types Identify stand types Species, site quality, age, density, and physiographic province Species, site quality, age, density, and physiographic province Estimate above ground green tons of stem wood with growth and yield functions Estimate above ground green tons of stem wood with growth and yield functions Convert green tons to carbon using conversion factors Convert green tons to carbon using conversion factors Obtain below ground tree carbon as a function of above ground tree carbon (e.g. 20%) Obtain below ground tree carbon as a function of above ground tree carbon (e.g. 20%) Obtain soil carbon estimates in a similar manner Obtain soil carbon estimates in a similar manner

Tree Carbon Major stand categories developed for all major timber types in Georgia Major stand categories developed for all major timber types in Georgia Carbon tables developed for major timber types Carbon tables developed for major timber types Protocols Protocols For entities with reliable inventory information For entities with reliable inventory information For entities without reliable inventory information For entities without reliable inventory information Verification at the end of contract Verification at the end of contract

Tree Carbon With Reliable Inventory Stand level probability samples available Stand level probability samples available Conducted by registered forester Conducted by registered forester < 10 years < 10 years Sample precision <= 15% Sample precision <= 15% Procedure for calculating tree carbon from inventory Procedure for calculating tree carbon from inventory Wood and bark into green tons of wood by product Wood and bark into green tons of wood by product Green tons into dry tons Green tons into dry tons Dry tons into carbon Dry tons into carbon Estimation of current levels (accumulation from inventory date) Estimation of current levels (accumulation from inventory date) Carbon tables Carbon tables Growth and yield software Growth and yield software

Tree Carbon Without Reliable Inventory Register forester examines the stand and identifies Register forester examines the stand and identifies Major species Major species Stand origin (planted cutover site, planted ag. field, natural) Stand origin (planted cutover site, planted ag. field, natural) Stand age Stand 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 improvement Level of genetic improvement Use carbon table to assess carbon sequestered Use carbon table to assess carbon sequestered Also use carbon table to assess expected carbon accumulation Also use carbon table to assess expected carbon accumulation

Carbon Table Loblolly, Natural, SI Low, Low Intensity Mngt, Unimproved genetics, Regional avg., No Thinning AgePulp Wood CSaw Timber C tons-C/acre

Belowground Carbon Belowground Biomass (Roots) Belowground Biomass (Roots) Research across a broad range of species on many sites indicates that ~20% of total tree biomass is belowground (roots) Research across a broad range of species on many sites indicates that ~20% of total tree biomass is belowground (roots) Apply factor of 1.25 to merchantable volume to get an estimate of total carbon sequestered on forested sites Apply factor of 1.25 to merchantable volume to get an estimate of total carbon sequestered on forested sites Soil carbon (mineral soils) Soil carbon (mineral soils) Hard to assess the quantitative rate at which soil can sequester carbon Hard to assess the quantitative rate at which soil can sequester carbon Agreement on afforested ag. fields (min. 10 years in ag) carbon accumulation – 0.15 Mg per ha per year for 50 years Agreement on afforested ag. fields (min. 10 years in ag) carbon accumulation – 0.15 Mg per ha per year for 50 years

Carbon in Forest Products Allocation of carbon from trees to end use products and carbon disposition over time Allocation of carbon from trees to end use products and carbon disposition over time Industrial roundwood harvest approach Industrial roundwood harvest approach Primary wood products approach Primary wood products approach Using TPO studies for Georgia to identify preferable approach and regional detail (statewide vs. sub-regions) Using TPO studies for Georgia to identify preferable approach and regional detail (statewide vs. sub-regions) USFS data region-wide USFS data region-wide

Carbon in Forest Products Carbon Disposition, Softwood sawlog, years AgeIn use LandfillEnergy Emitted

Remote Sensing Protocol for monitoring forest carbon with remote sensing and GIS database analysis Protocol for monitoring forest carbon with remote sensing and GIS database analysis Individual landowners Individual landowners GFC monitoring GFC monitoring Broad Scale Monitoring Broad Scale Monitoring Satellite imagery Satellite imagery Identification of changes in vegetation density Identification of changes in vegetation density

Remote Sensing Initial Verification Initial Verification Forest cover / no forest cover Forest cover / no forest cover Softwood / hardwood Softwood / hardwood Young / old (possibly) Young / old (possibly) Change detection Change detection Identify clear cuts and partial cuts Identify clear cuts and partial cuts

Continuing Work Testing and implementation Testing and implementation Reliability Reliability Precision Precision Estimate and register sequestered forest carbon with cooperating forest landowners Estimate and register sequestered forest carbon with cooperating forest landowners Develop training and certification programs Develop training and certification programs Complete the website Complete the website