The School of Forest Resources Presents….
Dr. Brent Sohngen
Professor, Environmental & Resource Economics
The Ohio State University
Forest Management and the Expanding Global Forest Carbon Sink
All are welcome!
January 27, 2017
Room 204 Nutting Hall
12:00-1:00 PM
Abstract: Despite deforestation and the conversion of forests to agricultural uses globally, the IPCC suggests that the net carbon sink globally amounts to around 1.5-2.0 Pg C per year. In the US, forests sequester around 0.2 Pg C per year. Much of this increase in forest carbon storage is attributed to forest regrowth, aging forests, and carbon fertilization. The role of management is less well understood. This talk will present a model of historical global forest management over the period 1900-2010 with a dynamic optimization model. The results illustrate how forest management has contributed to the current global carbon sink, accounting for around 30% of the global sink capacity. Also assessed is how the demand for forest products, including biofuels and carbon capture and storage, could encourage significantly larger investments in forest management in the future. Tradeoffs between market driven scenarios that favor biofuels, and policy scenarios that encourage carbon sequestration and storage in forested ecosystems are examined.
Host: Dr. Adam Daigneault, Assistant Professor of Forest, Recreation and Conservation Policy
If you are a person with a disability and need an accommodation to participate in this program, please call Cindy Paschal, School of Forest Resources, as early as possible at 581-2841 or cpaschal@maine.edu to discuss your needs.