Optimal Carbon Storage in Mixed-Species Size-Structured Forests

Assmuth, Aino; Rämö, Janne; Tahvonen, Olli

doi:10.1007/s10640-021-00559-9

Cited by 17 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…There are many previous investigations discussing the economic feasibility of thinning practices [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30]. Some of them also discuss carbon storage features [31][32][33][34][35]. However, a few studies contain deficiencies restricting their applicability.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, a few studies contain deficiencies restricting their applicability. Common deficiencies are unrealistic assumptions regarding the yield of various timber assortments, as well as pricing assumptions not adhering with reality [35][36][37][38][39]. It also appears that the optimal number of thinnings, thinning intensity, as well as selection between continuous-cover forestry and clearcuttings, depends on the applied discounting interest rate [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Two sets of initial conditions on boreal forest carbon storage economics

Kärenlampi¹

2022

PLOS Clim

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Two sets of initial conditions are used in the investigation of capital return rate and carbon storage in boreal forests. Firstly, a growth model is applied in young stands as early as the inventory-based model is applicable. Secondly, the growth model is applied to observed wooded stands. Four sets of thinning schedules are investigated in either case. The two sets of initial conditions yield similar results. The capital return rate is a weak function of rotation age, which results in variability in the optimal number of thinnings. Reducing the number of thinnings to one increases timber stock but induces a capital return rate deficiency. The deficiency per excess volume unit is smaller if the severity of any thinning is restricted by the removal of large trees only. Omission of thinnings best applies to spruce-dominated stands with stem count less than 2000/ha. Restricted thinning intensity applies to deciduous stands and dense pine stands. The albedo effect increases the benefits of restricted thinnings and increased clearcuttings instead of contradicting the carbon storage.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Two sets of initial conditions on boreal forest carbon storage economics

Kärenlampi¹

2022

PLOS Clim

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…There are many previous investigations discussing the economic feasibility of thinning practices [20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28]. Some of them also discuss carbon storage features [9,12,[29][30][31]. However, a few studies contain deficiencies restricting their applicability.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, a few studies contain deficiencies restricting their applicability. Common deficiencies are unrealistic assumptions regarding the yield of various timber assortments, as well as pricing assumptions not adhering with reality [31][32][33][34][35]. It also appears that the optimal number of thinnings, thinning intensity, as well as selection between continuous-cover forestry and clearcuttings, depend on the applied discounting interest rate [20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Capitalization and Capital Return in Boreal Carbon Forestry

Kärenlampi¹

2022

Earth

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In this paper, an attempt is made to determine an intangible capitalization premium based on an expected further value increment of forest stands. Such premium cannot be determined through exponential interpolation. Firstly, any discount rate depending on maturity proposes clearcuttings soon after thinning as a computational artifact. Secondly, exponential interpolation with a constant discount rate violates an internal consistency criterion as the rotation age increases. Omitting the intangible capitalization premium, the carbon stock of boreal forest can be increased in a variety of ways (albeit at the expense of a capital return rate deficiency). A small excess volume can be economically gained by increasing sapling density. Greater excess volume is best achieved by restricting thinnings. A large excess volume is best achieved by omitting thinnings. Regardless of the technique used, enhanced carbon storage requires financial compensation in terms of a carbon rent. With the present European emission prices, there is no financial difficulty in establishing such a carbon rent arrangement.

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“…By integrating disturbances into the economic assessment of complex management strategies and analyzing recovery rates of economic value of a forest after severe disturbance, our paper adds new dimensions to the existing body of literature. For example, previous optimization studies focused on the economic return of alternative forest management regimes to clear felling, but ignored natural disturbances (Rämö and Tahvonen 2014 , 2015 ; Tahvonen 2015 ; Roessiger et al 2016 ; Tahvonen and Rämö 2016 ; Assmuth et al 2018 , 2021 ; Parkatti and Tahvonen 2020 ). In contrast, we here integrate the influence of natural events such as wind and bark beetles using empirically derived tree survival models to simulate tree mortality and include additional scenarios of severe disturbances.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the Economic Resilience of Different Management Systems to Severe Forest Disturbance

Knoke

Paul

Gosling

et al. 2022

Environ Resource Econ

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Given the drastic changes in the environment, resilience is a key focus of ecosystem management. Yet, the quantification of the different dimensions of resilience remains challenging, particularly for long-lived systems such as forests. Here we present an analytical framework to study the economic resilience of different forest management systems, focusing on the rate of economic recovery after severe disturbance. Our framework quantifies the post-disturbance gain in the present value of a forest relative to a benchmark system as an indicator of economic resilience. Forest values and silvicultural interventions were determined endogenously from an optimization model and account for risks affecting tree survival. We consider the effects of differences in forest structure and tree growth post disturbance on economic resilience. We demonstrate our approach by comparing the economic resilience of continuous cover forestry against a clear fell system for typical conditions in Central Europe. Continuous cover forestry had both higher economic return and higher economic resilience than the clear fell system. The economic recovery from disturbance in the continuous cover system was between 18.2 and 51.5% faster than in the clear fell system, resulting in present value gains of between 1733 and 4535 € ha−1. The advantage of the continuous cover system increased with discount rate and stand age, and was driven by differences in both stand structure and economic return. We conclude that continuous cover systems can help to address the economic impacts of increasing disturbances in forest management.

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Optimal Carbon Storage in Mixed-Species Size-Structured Forests

Cited by 17 publications

References 60 publications

Two sets of initial conditions on boreal forest carbon storage economics

Two sets of initial conditions on boreal forest carbon storage economics

Capitalization and Capital Return in Boreal Carbon Forestry

Assessing the Economic Resilience of Different Management Systems to Severe Forest Disturbance

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