Optimization of continuous cover forestry expansion under the influence of Global warming

Abstract

Planet Earth faces the problem of global warming. Recent research on the dynamics of the CO 2 concentration in the atmosphere has shown how reductions of global industrial emissions of CO 2 can solve a large part of the global warming problem. However, there are more control options available. Our world is covered by large areas of primary (natural) forests that are almost not managed at all. They do not contribute very much to the net absorption of CO 2 . Parts of these natural forests may be transformed to continuous cover forests, which mean that the absorption of CO 2 increases so that the CO 2 level in the atmosphere can be further reduced. This transformation can be made without severely damaging the environmental conditions. The analysis in this paper shows how to define an optimization problem with two objectives with different weights in the objective function. These objectives are the economic present value of profits and the utility of the climate. The analysis shows how the optimal transformation of natural forests to managed continuous cover forests is affected by the relative weights of the utility of the climate and of the present value of the profits. If the relative weight of the utility of the climate increases, the optimal area of natural forests that should be transformed to managed continuous cover forests increases. If 600 M hectares are transformed during 60 years, from 2020 until 2080, then the concentration of CO 2 in the atmosphere can be reduced by 8 ppm until the year 2100.

"Rational Control of Global Warming Dynamics Via the CO2 Level, Emission Reductions and Forestry Expansion"

“…The results from the parameter estimations are found in (Tables 1 & 2). In case the industrial emissions would be constant and equal to f c , then in CO 2 equilibrium, x c , equation ( 6) is satisfied, which leads to (7).…”

“…If the relative weight of the utility of the climate increases, the optimal area of natural forests that should be transformed to managed continuous cover forests increases. Several concrete results were reported in this area by Lohmander [7,8].…”

“…Similar conclusions can be found also in other studies. Lohmander [7] concludes: "If the relative weight of the utility of the climate increases, the optimal area of natural forests that should be transformed to managed continuous cover forests increases." Lohmander [8] writes that if the area of active forest management increases, the area covered by forests in dynamic equilibria with net CO 2 absorption close to zero, decreases.…”

Adaptive mobile firefighting resources: stochastic dynamic optimization of international cooperation

“…Recent studies and results concerning CO 2 dynamics and rational forest management are found in Lohmander (2020a, 2020b and 2020c). [5][6][7] Countries close to the equator mostly have much larger and more dramatic forest fires than countries closer to the poles. Table 1, shows this very clearly, where it is found that the European countries in the south: Italy, France, Portugal and Spain, denoted "IFPS", on average, together, have the average yearly burned area of 313 400 hectares.…”