# Presentation: 476554

## Response to Chapter 9Carbon Cycle Research

- <date/time>

**Response to Chapter 9****Carbon Cycle Research**

- US Climate Change Science Program
- Planning Workshop
- December 3, 2003
- Alan A. Lucier, Ph.D
- NCASI

## General Comments

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**General Comments**

- A logical and comprehensive statement of research questions and needs.
- Important next steps:
- Drill down into the current R&D portfolio
- Identify areas of relative strength and weakness
- Highlight critical priorities for gap filling R&D

## The Nation’s Portfolio of Carbon Cycle Research

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**The Nation’s Portfolio of ****Carbon Cycle Research**

- Major Strength #1: Efforts to quantify sources and sinks in existing forests.
- FORCARB, FACE, Ameriflux, etc.
- Suggested priority for gap-filling R&D:
- 	**Accelerate ongoing efforts to improve**
- 	***Forest Inventory and Analysis***

## Portfolio Analysis - part 2

- <date/time>

**Portfolio Analysis - part 2**

- Major Strength #2:  Efforts to assess how carbon sequestration potential of existing forests might change in response to rising carbon dioxide and other environmental variables.
- FACE program is very important
- Suggested general approach to gap-filling R&D
- 	**More emphasis on experimentation and hypothesis testing, less emphasis on model exercises that are not tightly coupled to experimentation and hypothesis testing.**

## Portfolio Analysis - part 3

- <date/time>

**Portfolio Analysis - part 3**

- An Area of Perceived Weakness:  R&D on promising solutions for enhancing forest carbon sequestration and biomass energy production.
- A comprehensive “whole-system” approach is required.
- The forest products industry is prepared to join with government agencies and universities in an effort to fill critical information gaps.

## Research Questions

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**Research Questions**

- What are the major direct and indirect effects of managed forests and wood processing systems on the global carbon cycle?
- How can current and emerging forest technologies be deployed most effectively to enhance sequestration and biomass energy production while sustaining biodiversity?
- What are the most important economic and technological barriers to enhancing forest carbon sequestration and biomass energy production?

## Consortium for Research on Carbon Sequestration in Managed Forests

- <date/time>

**Consortium for Research on Carbon Sequestration in Managed Forests**

- Boise Cascade
- MeadWestvaco
- Temple-Inland
- UPM Kymmene
- NCASI

- International Paper
- Plum Creek Timber
- Weyerhaeuser
- AF&PA

## Why a Consortium? The information, expertise and technology necessary to assess and enhance the capacity of managed forests to sequester carbon and produce biomass energy does not exist within a single organization or sector

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- Why a Consortium? The information, expertise and technology necessary to assess and enhance the capacity of managed forests to sequester carbon and produce biomass energy does not exist within a single organization or sector

**AGENCIES, UNIVERSITIES, AND ENGOs**
**Carbon cycle science **
**Measurement technologies**
**Energy and environmental systems analysis **
**Policy expertise**

**FOREST INDUSTRY**
**Forest management technology**
**Land**
**Data Resources**
**Relevant expertise in applied science and technology**

## Slide 9

## Slide 10

## Consortium Network Vision

**Targeted Managed Forest Systems**
**Loblolly pine**
**Douglas-fir**
**Aspen**
**Spruce-fir**
**Eastern Cottonwood**
**Hybrid Poplars**
**N.E. Hardwoods**
**Central Hardwoods**
**Red/Jack Pine**
**Others**

## Necessary Outcomes

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**Necessary Outcomes**

- An initial assessment of current and potential roles of managed forests in the global carbon cycle.
- Forest management regimes optimized for carbon sequestration, biomass energy production, and other         social / economic objectives.
- Cost-effective methods for measuring and monitoring forest carbon stocks at several scales
- Science-based evaluation of incentives for forest carbon sequestration and other policy options
- Clear understanding of the potential for using managed forests to support biofuel centers

## Summary

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**Summary**

- Chapter 9 provides a logical and comprehensive statement of research needs.
- Going forward, priorities for gap-filling include:
- Accelerate ongoing improvements in FIA
- Put more emphasis on experimentation and hypothesis testing in carbon cycle research
- Strengthen R&D for active solutions.
- There is great untapped potential to enhance carbon sequestration and biomass energy production through active forest management