Strategies for using trees to minimize net emissions of CO{sub 2} to the atmosphere
Conference
·
OSTI ID:10122030
It is often assumed that trees grown to offset CO{sub 2} emissions need then to be preserved in order to keep the CO{sub 2} from returning to the atmosphere. My contention is that, in terms of atmospheric CO{sub 2}, a tree performs equivalently if it stores carbon or if its conversion to CO{sub 2} displaces some other source of CO{sub 2} that would otherwise be released. There is no difference in atmospheric CO{sub 2} if we burn coal and save trees or if we burn trees and save coal. This manuscript compares the alternatives. Through a simple model of carbon flows I compare net reductions of emissions of CO{sub 2} to the atmosphere for various combinations of: (1) the existing land use, (2) the anticipated growth rate of trees, (3) the fate of trees once they reach maturity, (4) the efficiency with which trees are used once harvested, and (5) time. The analysis focuses on the net carbon benefit and does not consider other factors that would enter into forest management decisions. The model shows that when there is an existing forest and either low growth-rate potential or a large energy cost involved with harvest and use, the most carbon efficient solution is to protect the forest to store carbon. On the other extreme, where the land is not currently occupied with trees, when the potential growth rate is high and the harvest can be used efficiently, the most carbon efficient solution is to maintain a tree plantation and to use the harvest to displace fossil fuel emissions. This manuscript describes the intermediate cases, some of the nuances, and some semi-quantitative aspects of the model.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- OSTI ID:
- 10122030
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9307120--1; ON: DE95007561
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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