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

Atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) has increased by 25% since Global temperature has increased by about 1.5  F since Carbon and Climate Source: Keeling, Whorf, and the Carbon Dioxide Research Group Friedli et al. (1996)

How could vegetation change with increasing CO 2 and warmer temps? From Ron Neilson Current Climate Warmer and wetter Warmer and dryer

The Link Between Forests and Carbon  Through photo- synthesis, trees remove CO 2 from the atmosphere and store it.  This “carbon sequestration” slows the build-up of CO 2 in the atmosphere. CO 2

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

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. Increasing carbon stocks in U.S. forests (excludes soil carbon) Billion tons Heath and Smith 2003

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 CO 2 emitted is reabsorbed by forests. Carbon Sequestration Bioenergy

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

Ecosystem Services Capturing 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.

National Plan for Reducing CO 2 Emissions  Guidelines for reporting green- house gas emissions are being revised by a joint USDOE/USDA effort  CO 2 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

In Summary Forests can help remove excess CO 2 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.