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Does Aiming for Long-Term Non-Decreasing Flow of Timber Secure Carbon Accumulation: A Lithuanian Forestry Case
- Source :
- Sustainability, Vol 13, Iss 2778, p 2778 (2021), Sustainability, Volume 13, Issue 5
- Publication Year :
- 2021
- Publisher :
- MDPI AG, 2021.
-
Abstract
- Lithuanian forestry has long been shaped by the classical normal forest theory, aiming for even long-term flow of timber, and the aspiration to preserve domestic forest resources, leading to very conservative forest management. With radically changing forest management conditions, climate change mitigation efforts suggest increasing timber demands in the future. The main research question asked in this study addresses whether current forest management principles in Lithuania can secure non-decreasing long-term flow of timber and carbon accumulation. The development of national forest resources and forestry was simulated for the next century using the Kupolis decision support system and assuming that current forest management is continued under the condition of three scenarios, differing by climate change mitigation efforts. Potential development trends of key forest attributes were analysed and compared with projected carbon stock changes over time, incorporating major forest carbon pools—biomass, harvested wood products and emission savings due to energy and product substitution. The key finding was that the total carbon balance should remain positive in Lithuania during the next one hundred years<br />however, it might start to decrease after several decades, with steadily increasing harvesting and a reduced increase of forest productivity. Additionally, incorporating the harvested wood and CO2 emissions savings in carbon balance evaluations is essential.
- Subjects :
- Decision support system
010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences
Geography, Planning and Development
Sustainable forest management
Forest management
Climate change
TJ807-830
010501 environmental sciences
Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
TD194-195
01 natural sciences
Renewable energy sources
GE1-350
Productivity
0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Environmental effects of industries and plants
Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Forestry
Building and Construction
Lithuanian
evenness of timber flow
simulation
language.human_language
sustainable forest management
Environmental sciences
Climate change mitigation
Balance (accounting)
climate change
language
Business
carbon stock changes
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 20711050
- Volume :
- 13
- Issue :
- 2778
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Sustainability
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....373e45110acec77f65d70174e3f7bd5d