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| Title: | Incorporating Carbon Storage into Forest Management in Michigan: A Modeling Based Scenario Analysis |
| Authors: | Lindauer-Thompson, Alicia |
| Keywords: | forest ecosystems
carbon storage |
| Issue Date: | 12-Aug-2008 |
| Abstract: | Forest ecosystems play an important role in the global carbon (C) cycle, as they can be
both a sink for and a source of atmospheric CO2. State owned forests in Michigan are dominated
by early successional Aspen trees and are frequently managed to maintain Aspen dominance.
Here, I developed a model that allows a user to assess the impacts of forest management
decisions on forest composition, tree species and size diversity, stand economic value, and C
storage. The model, MITRIX, pairs an empirical growth model with a C accounting model and
was specifically designed to be useful to forest managers in Michigan to assess the tradeoffs
encountered in meeting diverse management goals while incorporating the relatively recent goal
of stabilizing or increasing C storage. Inventory and sale data from the Michigan DNR and field
data from the University of Michigan Biological Station were obtained for model development
and validation. Validation showed that the model accurately simulates forest stand growth and
succession. Model simulations suggested that C storage is maximized when an Aspen dominated
stand is allowed to succeed to a later successional species cover. If an Aspen stand is to be
maintained, increasing the rotation period results in a greater overall C storage. When a
landscape-based management approach is taken, timber profits, species diversity, and stand C
storage are all stabilized. With a 200 year frame of analysis, the price of C necessary to balance
opportunity costs was $22-26 per metric ton. However, when the time frame of analysis was
shortened, this price was considerably higher. The 2008 Michigan state forest plan includes C
storage in forest management objectives. The results suggest that considering C storage in
Michigan forests will affect stand management decisions and the model described here is a
useful tool to assess the impact of altered management strategies. |
| Appears in Collections: | Natural Resources and Environment, School of (SNRE)
Dissertations and Theses (Ph.D. and Master's)
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Files in This Item:
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Size | Format | |
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| Lindauer-Thompson_SNREThesis_August2008.pdf | | 1833Kb | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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