Effects of permanence requirements on afforestation choices for carbon sequestration for Ontario, Canada

Yemshanov, Denys; Biggs, Jeffrey; McKenney, Daniel W.; Lemprière, Tony C.

doi:10.1016/j.forpol.2011.08.010

Cited by 15 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…In Canada, ongoing afforestation on previously agricultural land, especially planting of short-rotation woody crops such as hybrid poplars, has been considered as an effective way to mitigate net CO 2 emissions (Yemshanov et al 2012). Given that approximately a total of 10,000-ha hybrid poplar plantations had been established in northern Alberta (Hayward, personal communication) on 20-to 25-year rotations to supplement wood supply for pulp and paper mills, while 6000 ha of hybrid poplar plantations had been established across Canada (Dominy et al 2010), afforestation with short-ration plantations can significantly impact the regional and national C balance.…”

Section: Implications Of This Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil respiration and its temperature sensitivity in agricultural and afforested poplar plantation systems in northern Alberta

2016

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The effect of land use change from agricultural to short rotation woody crops on soil respiration and its temperature sensitivity is not fully understood. We studied the effect of land use change on soil respiration, in a factorial experiment, 4 years after converting an agricultural field to a Walker poplar (Populus deltoides × Populus × petrowskyana var. Walker) plantation in the boreal region of northeastern Alberta. Overall, total soil respiration was greater in the agricultural plots (planted to alfalfa, Medicago sativa L.) than in the poplar plots. Soil respiration and soil temperature at the 10-cm depth in both land uses had similar seasonal and diurnal variations. The season-long temperature sensitivity (Q 10 ) of daily and nighttime soil respiration in the alfalfa plots was greater than that in the poplar plots, with Q 10 values of 5.4 vs. 4.9, respectively. Our data also show that, 4 years after land use conversion, the heterotrophic respiration was smaller in the poplar plots than in the adjacent agricultural plots, indicating potential benefits of plantation establishment in reducing heterotrophic respiration. However, the temperature sensitivity of soil respiration based on monthly nighttime rates, which minimizes the plant phenological influences, was greater in the poplar plantation, suggesting that soil respiration could become greater in the poplar plantation under a future warmer climate. We conclude that establishment of poplar plantations, which are known to have a fast rate of biomass production for long-term carbon storage, may help mitigate climate change by reducing heterotrophic and total soil respiration in the Canadian boreal region, but the long-term implications (e.g., changes in the temperature sensitivity of soil respiration over time) need to be further studied.

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Section: Implications Of This Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil respiration and its temperature sensitivity in agricultural and afforested poplar plantation systems in northern Alberta

2016

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“…that are managed by thinning before the clearcut. To our knowledge Pohjola and Valsta (2007), Backéus (2009), Raymer et al (2011), andYemshanov et al (2012) are the only Norway spruce studies including thinning for optimal timber production and CO 2 storage. Pohjola and Valsta (2007) used an empirical statistical individual-tree model, and reported that postponing clearcutting provides the largest increase in carbon storage.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They optimized planting density but fall short by having only a very limited amount of stand management alternatives. Yemshanov et al (2012) studied different afforestation scenarios for Ontario, Canada. They include Norway spruce but do not apply stand-level optimization.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On the economics of Norway spruce stands and carbon storage

Niinimäki

Tahvonen²,

Mäkelä³

et al. 2013

Can. J. For. Res.

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We combine a process-based growth model for even-aged Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) with economics and optimization. Carbon storage is subsidized based on stand growth and product decay. We include detailed optimized thinnings and timber quality features and present cost functions for stand-level CO 2 storage. In contrast to earlier studies, our results suggest that changing thinning strategies and postponing thinnings are at least as important as lengthening the rotation period when considering economically efficient carbon storage. The role of thinning is most important in less fertile sites. Contrary to the generic Faustmann model, a higher interest rate increases rotation length on our fertile site. Including carbon release from decaying timber products as reductions from carbon subsidies only has minor effects on optimal solutions. The fertile site stores more discounted carbon. However, with a 1% interest rate, the less fertile site is cost-efficient up to 13 CO 2 t·ha −1 , and with a 3% interest rate, it is cost-efficient up to 14 CO 2 t·ha −1 . After these points, carbon storage on the fertile site becomes cheaper. The economic costs of carbon storage suggest that it is optimal to apply carbon storage in Norway spruce forests to meet greenhouse gas reduction commitments.Résumé : Nous combinons économique et optimisation à un modèle de croissance à base écophysiologique pour l'épicéa commun (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) en peuplement équienne. Le stockage du carbone est subventionné sur la base de la croissance des peuplements et la décomposition des produits du bois. Nous incluons des caractéristiques détaillées de qualité du bois et des éclaircies optimisées et nous présentons des fonctions de coût pour le stockage du CO 2 à l'échelle du peuplement. Contrairement aux études précédentes, nos résultats indiquent qu'il est au moins aussi important de modifier les stratégies d'éclaircie et de retarder les éclaircies que d'allonger la période de rotation lorsqu'on tient compte de l'efficacité du stockage du carbone du point de vue économique. Le rôle de l'éclaircie est très important dans les stations moins fertiles. Contrairement au modèle générique de Faustmann, un taux d'intérêt plus élevé allonge la période de rotation dans notre station fertile. L'inclusion du carbone libéré par la décomposition des produits du bois, qui contribue à réduire les subventions pour le carbone, n'a que des effets mineurs sur les solutions optimales. La station fertile emmagasine plus de carbone actualisé. Cependant, la station moins fertile est rentable jusqu'à 13 t·ha −1 de CO 2 avec un taux d'intérêt de 1 % et jusqu'à 14 t·ha −1 de CO 2 avec un taux d'intérêt de 3 %. Au-delà , il devient moins coûteux d'emmagasiner le carbone dans la station fertile. Le coût économique du stockage du carbone indique que l'utilisation des forêts d'épicéa commun à cette fin, dans le but d'honorer les engagements concernant la réduction des gaz à effet de serre, est une solution optimale. [Traduit par la Rédaction]

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“…It is quite possible that practical trading schemes for forest carbon will utilize an expiry period; that is, carbon offsets would have to be sequestered for a certain minimum duration. The longevity of the expiry period would influence the conversion factor of temporary carbon credits to a permanent equivalent (Sedjo et al 2001b, Subak 2003, Yemshanov et al 2012. It is also likely that the expiry period in trading schemes could be affected by a multitude of other subjective considerations (such as perceptions of the price path of carbon offsets or costs of establishing and growing trees).…”

Section: Economic Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

The economic attractiveness of Short Rotation Coppice biomass plantations for bioenergy in Northern Ontario

Allen

McKenney

Yemshanov

et al. 2013

The Forestry Chronicle

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With an apparent abundance of idled and under-utilized agricultural land in Northern Ontario, there is interest in the ability of short-rotation forests to supply bioenergy and other possible bioproducts. Once established, Short Rotation Coppice (SRC) plantations can be harvested on (roughly) three-year cutting cycles until about age 22. Purpose-grown plantations such as these could be used as stand-alone sources of fibre or used in conjunction with sources such as natural forests or woody residues. Using a recently developed land cover model we found that approximately 405 500 ha of agricultural-type land exists across Northern Ontario. Numerous scenarios were developed to calculate SRC profitability on these areas. The analyses are intended to reflect a broad range of expectations on physical yields and prices, including management costs. Although SRC involves a considerable up-front investment, our simulations suggest a significant amount of land could have a break-even biomass price of $85/oven-dried tonnes (ODT) (+/-$5/ODT) at farm gate. This farm gate biomass price represents roughly current traditional biomass prices paid. Thus SRC would need to produce biomass at a comparable cost to be a competitive option. A number of technological and price changes could increase the attractiveness of SRC systems in Northern Ontario, including decreases in establishment and management costs (while maintaining yield expectations) and improved cultivars offering increased yields.

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Effects of permanence requirements on afforestation choices for carbon sequestration for Ontario, Canada

Cited by 15 publications

References 45 publications

Soil respiration and its temperature sensitivity in agricultural and afforested poplar plantation systems in northern Alberta

Soil respiration and its temperature sensitivity in agricultural and afforested poplar plantation systems in northern Alberta

On the economics of Norway spruce stands and carbon storage

The economic attractiveness of Short Rotation Coppice biomass plantations for bioenergy in Northern Ontario

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