The Big Picture: Relationship between Forests and Climate Change Edie Sonne Hall, Weyerhaeuser Forestry Sub-committee of Oregon s Global Warming Commission 07/07/08
Outline Overview of the carbon cycle Activities for enhancing forests contribution to offset greenhouse gas emissions
I have accidentally hit upon a method of restoring air which has been injured by the burning of candles, and that I have discovered at least one of the restoratives which nature employs for this purpose. It is vegetation. ~ Joseph Priestley, 1771
In atmosphere In terrestrial biosphere
Four major carbon pools Ocean 38000 Gt C Fossil Fuel Reserves ~3500 Terrestrial Biosphere 1500 Gt C in soil 600 Gt C in vegetation Atmosphere 750 Gt C (and growing)
The Carbon Cycle From Australia s Cooperative Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Accounting
Current trends in carbon cycle 20-25% total annual CO2 emissions from land-use change (second largest HUMAN source behind fossil fuel emissions) Geographically, biggest sources of emissions from land: tropical asia, tropical americas, tropical africa, (non tropics net-sink) CO2 naturally goes from ocean-atmosphere, atmosphereocean; land-atmosphere, atmosphere-land Currently more CO2 going into ocean AND land than being emitted.
Carbon Cycle- Annual Fluxesfrom Fourth IPCC Report (AR4) Atmospheric increase 1980s 1990s 2000 Gt C/yr Gt C/yr Gt C/yr 3.3 +/- 0.1 3.2 +/- 0.1 4.1 +/- 0.1 Fossil fuel & cement 5.4 +/- 0.3 6.4 +/- 0.4 7.2 +/- 0.3 Net oceanatmospher e -1.9 +/- 0.8-2.2 +/- 0.4-2.2 +/- 0.5 Net landatmosphere -0.3 +/- 0.9 (1.4 out, -1.7 in) -1.0 +/- 0.6 (1.6 out, -2.6 in) -0.9 +/- 0.6 (no info avail.)
How to help mitigate climate change Atmospheric pool of CO2 continues to increase Need to maximize storage of C across the remaining 3 pools Reduce combustion of fossil fuels (keep in fossil fuel pool) Increase ocean sink (currently expensive and potentially environmentally harmful) Increase terrestrial biosphere sink C in atmosphere C in fossil fuel reserves C in oceans C in terrestrial biosphere
Source: Oregon Forest Resources Institute; artwork by The Forest Foundation
Forest Activities that Cause Net Removals of GHGs Increases in on-site carbon storage Biomass for energy (offset fossil fuel use) Increases in wood product carbon storage Use wood products instead of more energy intensive substitutes (offsets fossil fuel use)
Forest Activities that Cause Net Increases in Atmospheric CO2 Deforestation/Land-use Change Land Degradation Disturbances (e.g. mortality due to fire/insect
1. Increase on-site carbon storage Afforestation/Reforestation Lengthen rotations Increase stand productivity Fire suppression (works for a limited time)
2. Biomass to Offset Fossil Fuel Use Biomass for Energy Industry biomass power generation Utility biomass power generation Biomass co-firing Wood Pellets Biomass for Biofuels Cellulosic Ethanol
States with Renewable Portfolio Standards
Biomass Co-firing
Wood Pellets - Existing Manufacturing Facilities ~27 plants in Canada (1.15MMt) ~67 plants in United States (1.25MMt) 550,000t exports from Canada to EU Currently 0 exports from US to EU 2006 Consumption US 1.4MMt Canada 150,000t Total North American Capacity 2.4MMt
Cellulosic Biofuels
Weyerhaeuser Joint-Venture with Chevron Catchlight Energy- formed March 2008 The joint venture, Catchlight Energy LLC, will research and develop technology for converting cellulosebased biomass into economical, lowcarbon biofuels.
3. Increase Carbon Storage in Wood Products Sustainably managed forest Maintains carbon stock Increment harvested and manufactured into wood products Percentage of wood product remain in use for 100 years = permanent additional carbon storage
The importance of carbon in products-in-use Recycling Forest Mills Users Landfills To understand forest carbon, you need to look beyond the forest Is the carbon in products-in-use worth worrying about? Increasing at 1.9 %/year 2000 to 2005: Growth globally = 147 million ton C/yr Equivalent to CO 2 removals from the atmosphere of 540 million ton CO 2 / yr
Opportunities for Managed Forests Percent of world s forests required to meet present demand 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 2 (natural) 10 (planted) 20 (high yield) Growth Rate (m 3 /ha/yr) Source: Roger A. Sedjo & Daniel Botkin, 1997
4. Product Substitution CO2, CH4, N2O emissions Wood-framed house Steel-framed house 1 Concrete-framed house 2 1 Source: Excalibur Steel Structures website 2 Source: Insulating Concrete Form Association, ecospotlight
GHG savings from using wood significant If 1.5 million housing starts in the U.S. used wood-framed houses rather than non-wood building systems, 9.6 million metric tons (mt) CO2e per year would be kept out of the atmosphere. This savings is equivalent to keeping roughly two million cars off the road for one year (Miner et al, 2006) Using wood-framed housing in the 1.7 million housing starts in Europe[1] would save 35-50 million mt CO2e, which would be enough to contribute 11-16% of the emissions reduction needed for Europe to meet the Kyoto requirement (Eriksson 2003). A 17% increase in wood usage in the New Zealand building industry could result in a reduction of 484,000 mt CO2e. This reduction is equivalent to a 20% reduction in carbon emissions from the New Zealand building industry and roughly 2% of New Zealand s total GHG emissions (Buchanon and Levine 1999). [1] Currently only 5% of new construction in Europe uses wood framing
Forests, Plus Products, Plus Displaced Energy
5. and 6. Reduce Deforestation and Land Degradation
7. Reduce Vulnerability to Disturbances Fire Natural in many ecosystems Fire suppression has increased carbon storage but increased vulnerability to large fires
Net absorption/sequestration influenced by: Growth Rate - Length of growing season - CO2 fertilization - Drought stress Forest Extent - Afforestation - Land-use change (deforestation) - Forest encroachment/desertification Disturbances - Fire - Wind - Insect outbreaks Human Uses - Long-term wood products - Biofuels - recycling Impacts terrestrial biosphere AND fossil fuel reserves
Forest Industry Role in Climate Change Mitigation Implement sustainable forestry to maintain or increase carbon storage in forests Efficiently produce forest products (minimize waste, use biomass energy, increase manufacturing efficiency) Promote the use of forest products because of long-term carbon storage AND low carbon footprint in comparison to other substitute materials
Questions? Edie Sonne Hall edie.sonnehall@weyerhaeuser.com 253 924-3292
IPCC 2007 WG1- Scientific Report, Chapter 7, figure 7.3
Industry Biomass Power Generation January 10, 2007, Governor Kulongoski Announces New Biomass Plant in Lakeview Plant marks first new biomass facility in Oregon in more than ten years Salem Today Governor Ted Kulongoski announced that DG Energy will build a biomass power plant in Lakeview, Oregon marking the first new biomass facility in Oregon since 1992. "Using biomass from overstocked forests, this innovative project will produce electricity while helping restore forest health, reduce fire risks, and create jobs," said Governor Kulongoski. "This project serves as a model for collaboration between industry, conservationists and state government in enhancing forest health, developing renewable energy and creating jobs." DG Energy will invest $20 million in the facility and it will produce nearly 100,000 MWh (11.4 MWa) of renewable energy to the regional Oregon grid annually. In addition, the facility will supply steam to the Fremont Sawmill, owned by the Collins Companies of Portland Oregon. Permits for the plant will be filed in mid-spring and the facility is expected to be operational in 2008. PORTLAND, Ore. May 30, 2007 Energy Trust will invest up to $5 million in a biomass cogeneration project that will generate enough electricity to serve over 12,000 homes with continuous renewable electricity. The 15.8-megawatt project will be owned by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and their financial partner. The project, which will cost $46 million to build, will also provide steam for Warm Springs Forest Products Industries, the Tribes wood products enterprise. By using clean wood fuel from forest fuels reduction and forest restoration projects in Central Oregon, saw mill residuals and other clean materials, the project will result in healthier forests.