Forest managers in the Pacific Northwest face the challenge of balancing timber harvests with maximizing above-ground carbon sequestration, a critical factor in combating climate change. The carbon stored in U.S. forests offsets 13% of the nation's greenhouse gas emissions, making effective forest management essential.
Oregon State University researchers in the College of Forestry conducted forest modeling in the McDonald-Dunn Research Forest to determine the optimal harvest rotation periods for different productivity levels. Using the Forest Vegetation Simulator and the forest inventory, they analyzed over 300 stands with varying productivity levels and assessed the impact of different rotation lengths and thinning treatments on carbon sequestration.
The study found that 60-year rotations with low-intensity thinning at 40 years for highly productive stands maximized carbon storage. For less productive sites, 80-year or 120-year rotations were more effective. Moderately productive stands performed best with 80-year rotations and two low-intensity thinning treatments.
These findings provide valuable insights for forest managers to meet harvest requirements while maintaining high carbon sequestration potential, ensuring that forest management practices contribute to both economic and environmental sustainability, benefiting communities and ecosystems alike.
