Contribution of new forests to the carbon balance and wider ecosystem services EFI Annual Conference Aberdeen 19 th September 2019 Robert Matthews Forest Research Alice Holt Research Station Farnham GU10 4LH UNITED KINGDOM robert.matthews@forestresearch.gov.uk
What and in what ways? Different sectors Different impacts Other land uses Holistic approach needed! 2 23/09/2019
How much and when? 10 “A multi-purpose forest Forest “Emissions” machinery stand in Scotland” Soil etc. Net GHG emissions increase/decrease 5 (+/-) (tCO 2 -eq ha -1 yr -1 ) 0 Trees -5 Dead and litter Wood products -10 Bioenergy -15 Materials etc. “Savings” 2050 2100 2030 -20 3 23/09/2019
Net GHG emissions increase/decrease Net GHG emissions increase/decrease 4 (+/-) (tCO 2 -eq ha -1 yr -1 ) (+/-) (tCO 2 -eq ha -1 yr -1 ) -20 -15 -10 -20 -15 -10 10 -5 10 -5 0 5 0 5 23/09/2019 As previous but “organic soil” “Managed amenity birch” Net GHG emissions increase/decrease (+/-) (tCO 2 -eq ha -1 yr -1 ) Net GHG emissions increase/decrease “The right forest in the right place” (+/-) (tCO 2 -eq ha -1 yr -1 ) -20 -15 -10 10 -5 0 5 -20 -15 -10 10 -5 0 5 “Industrial plantation” “Rewilding with birch”
Where and how (practice)? Materials/ Sequest. fuel Relative supply Health Flood Divers. SRF Industrial Multi Amenity Water • Guidance? • Standard? • Criteria SRF Multi Industrial Amenity • Decision support? 5 23/09/2019
Where and how (policy)? What is involved in a “holistic” approach? Options for instruments Some actual examples • Targets • Planting targets • Standards • Recycling targets Environmental integrity • Public programmes • Planting/management grants • Regulation • Deforestation laws • Payments for actions/ services • Bioenergy incentives • Trading systems. • Green construction and Create robust • timber innovation standards programme. Create a Forest carbon project WCC measurement registry protocols and frame- tools work Approved Establish pilot verification woodland bodies to carbon projects provide assurance 6 23/09/2019
Watch out! • Carbon sequestration is reversible/”lock-in” • How to ensure wood products give GHG savings Joined-up sectoral policies (environmental integrity) • • Pay now to get (long-term) benefits eventually • Environmental/social benefits difficult to monetise Carbon prices can be very volatile • • Who’s carbon is it anyway? ACT NOW Forests • Wood products • • “Sting” in some LULUCF accounting rules • Need “no regrets” action (risk management) • “Mind your language” (terminology, definitions …) • Beware simplistic arguments/positions Too big for sectoral interests. • 7 23/09/2019
Contribution of new forests to the carbon balance and wider ecosystem services Thank you Acknowledgements Robert Matthews Louise Sing, Duncan Ray, Forest Research (graph on Slide 5) Forest Research robert.matthews@forestresearch.gov.uk
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