Development of a Forest Carbon
Sequestration Protocol
for the State of Georgia
J. Siry, P. Bettinger, B. Borders, C. Cieszewski, M. Clutter,
B. Izlar, D. Markewitz, R. Teskey
Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia
Carbon Registry Public Hearing, Statesboro
February 12, 2007
Objectives
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Develop reliable and cost-effective methods for
measuring carbon stocks and flows
Tree carbon
 Soil carbon
 Carbon stored in post-harvest sinks (forest products)
 Monitoring carbon storage with remote sensing
 Carbon trading website
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Values and Costs
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Currently, carbon sequestered in trees is a low value
commodity
Participation will be limited if cost excessive
Tree carbon estimation essentially an inventory problem
Typical timber inventory 1 plot for every 1 to 4 acres at
more than $10 per plot
If stand is producing 1 to 2 tons of carbon per ac/yr
landowners unlikely to spend money on carbon estimates
Approach
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Identify stand types
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Species, site quality, age, density, and physiographic
province
Estimate above ground green tons of stem
wood with growth and yield functions
Convert green tons to carbon using conversion
factors
Obtain below ground tree carbon as a function
of above ground tree carbon (e.g. 20%)
Obtain soil carbon estimates in a similar manner
Tree Carbon
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Major stand categories developed for all major
timber types in Georgia
Carbon tables developed for major timber types
Protocols
For entities with reliable inventory information
 For entities without reliable inventory information
 Verification at the end of contract
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Tree Carbon
With Reliable Inventory
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Stand level probability samples available
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Conducted by registered forester
< 10 years
Sample precision <= 15%
Procedure for calculating tree carbon from inventory
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Wood and bark into green tons of wood by product
Green tons into dry tons
Dry tons into carbon
Estimation of current levels (accumulation from inventory date)
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Carbon tables
Growth and yield software
Tree Carbon
Without Reliable Inventory
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Register forester examines the stand and identifies
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Major species
Stand origin (planted cutover site, planted ag. field, natural)
Stand age
Site quality (low 52, medium 62, high 72 at 25 for pine)
Stand density (low, high)
Thinning condition (pine stands only)
Management intensity (planted pine only)
Level of genetic improvement
Use carbon table to assess carbon sequestered
Also use carbon table to assess expected carbon accumulation
Carbon Table
Loblolly, Natural, SI Low, Low Intensity Mngt, Unimproved genetics, Regional avg., No Thinning
Age
Pulp Wood C
Saw Timber C
-------tons-C/acre------10
0.16
0
15
2.42
0
20
5.67
0
25
8.66
0.35
30
10.6
1.38
35
11.66
2.78
40
11.75
4.63
45
11.22
6.63
50
10.44
8.48
55
9.6
10.07
Belowground Carbon
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Belowground Biomass (Roots)
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Research across a broad range of species on many sites
indicates that ~20% of total tree biomass is belowground
(roots)
Apply factor of 1.25 to merchantable volume to get an
estimate of total carbon sequestered on forested sites
Soil carbon (mineral soils)
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Hard to assess the quantitative rate at which soil can
sequester carbon
Agreement on afforested ag. fields (min. 10 years in ag)
carbon accumulation – 0.15 Mg per ha per year for 50 years
Carbon in Forest Products
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Allocation of carbon from trees to end use
products and carbon disposition over time
Industrial roundwood harvest approach
 Primary wood products approach
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Using TPO studies for Georgia to identify
preferable approach and regional detail
(statewide vs. sub-regions)
USFS data region-wide
Carbon in Forest Products
Carbon Disposition, Softwood sawlog, 0-100 years
Age
In use
Landfill
Energy
Emitted
1
0.601
0.017
0.270
0.112
5
0.493
0.068
0.303
0.136
10
0.402
0.110
0.331
0.157
15
0.345
0.136
0.347
0.172
20
0.306
0.153
0.357
0.184
25
0.276
0.166
0.364
0.194
30
0.251
0.176
0.370
0.203
Remote Sensing
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Protocol for monitoring forest carbon with
remote sensing and GIS database analysis
Individual landowners
 GFC monitoring
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Broad Scale Monitoring
Satellite imagery
 Identification of changes in vegetation density
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Remote Sensing
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Initial Verification
Forest cover / no forest cover
 Softwood / hardwood
 Young / old (possibly)
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Change detection
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Identify clear cuts and partial cuts
Continuing Work
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Testing and implementation
Reliability
 Precision
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Estimate and register sequestered forest carbon with
cooperating forest landowners
Develop training and certification programs
Complete the website