Carbon storage in managed forests

Abstract

The mass of carbon stored in forests is an important component of the global carbon cycle. A general model is developed to relate average carbon storage over the lifetime of a forest managed for sustained yield to the maximum biomass of the same forest at maturity. Point of inflection of stand growth is established using the Richards function. If a forest is managed for maximum sustained yield of biomass, mean lifetime carbon storage is about one-third that at maturity. Point of growth inflection has little effect on this fraction. When accumulation and decomposition of detritus after harvest are added, the fraction is about 0.5 in temperate deciduous forests, less in the tropics, and more in boreal forests. Harvest at financial maturity, by shortening the rotation, disproportionately reduces lifetime carbon storage, to perhaps 0.2 of the maximum. Nontimber values may affect carbon storage either positively or negatively. Forest regrowth and multispecies agricultural systems that include trees may account for more carbon storage in the tropics than is sometimes assumed.