1. Oregon Forests: A Key Role in the State’s Carbon Picture
(preliminary results)
Oregon Forests: A Key Role in the State’s Carbon Picture

2. First time forests will be accounted for in the state’s carbon picture
Only reporting sector that both emits carbon and grows carbon stocks
All data still in peer review. Should have work completed in next 3 months
Do not cite or circulate

3. All data sorted by six eco-regions . . .
Coast Ranges
Klamath
Western Cascades
Eastern Cascades
Blue Mountain
Northwest Basin
. . . then analyzed by forestland owner in the six eco-regions:
National Forest System
National Park Service
BLM
State
Private Industrial
Private Non-Industrial (family forests)
“Other”

4. . . . Oregon forests play a central role
At preliminary glance . . .
Gross carbon gain/yr from forests: 88 million metric tons CO2e
Net carbon loss/yr from forests:
58 million metric tons CO2e (~97% of annual emissions from all other sectors)
~23 million metric tons CO2e in tree mortality (83% on NFS lands)
~35 million metric tons CO2e in forest removal (73% on private industrial lands)
Net carbon gain/yr from forests: 30 million metric tons CO2e
(~ 50% of all annual emissions in the state)
. . . Oregon forests play a central role

5. 74% of statewide forest net carbon gains come from three eco-regions
Gross carbon growth = ~ 66 million metric tons CO2e/yr
Carbon loss/yr = ~ 44 million metric tons CO2e
Net carbon gain/yr = ~ 22 million metric tons CO2e
74% of statewide forest net carbon gains come from three eco-regions
Blue Mountain eco-region: 27% of all state forestland acres
West Cascades eco-region: 22% of all state forestland acres

6. Average annual CO2e emissions from fire
Acres burned don’t tell the story
2002: ~600,000 acres burned in south western Oregon (emissions from fire = 10% of all other sector emissions that year)
2007: ~200,000 acres burned northeast and southeast Oregon
2012: ~1 million acres burned in southeast Oregon
Why the difference?
Comparable