Exploring Trade-offs Between Carbon Storage and Timber Production with Alternative Rotation and Harvest Policies:...

Area of Science:

• Forestry Science
• Ecosystem Management
• Climate Change Mitigation

Background:

• Forests are vital for ecosystem services, including timber production and carbon sequestration.
• Understanding the long-term carbon-timber trade-offs of forest management strategies is crucial for climate mitigation and sustainable practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the combined effects of rotation length, harvest regulation, and tree-size dynamics on forest carbon storage and timber production.
• To evaluate different management scenarios using a decision support system (DSS).

Main Methods:

• Utilized the ETÇAP decision support system (DSS) for simulations.
• Developed four management scenarios combining short/long rotations with area/volume-control harvesting.
• Incorporated tree-size-dependent carbon dynamics over a 100-year planning horizon for a Turkish forest unit.

Main Results:

• Longer rotations and volume-control harvesting led to greater carbon storage by promoting larger trees.
• Shorter rotations and area-control harvesting increased timber production but heightened carbon-timber trade-offs.
• Tree-size dynamics affected carbon accumulation but did not change overall trade-off patterns.

Conclusions:

• Forest age structure and harvesting regimes significantly influence long-term carbon and timber outcomes.
• Integrating ecosystem-based management with DSS aids in evaluating alternatives for climate-informed forest planning.
• Results are scenario-based projections and exclude major disturbances like wildfires or pest outbreaks.