by Brent A. Rudolph, Ph.D. | RGS & AWS Chief Conservation & Legislative Officer
Beliefs and attitudes on climate change vary considerably among Americans. However, regardless of personal opinions, the future of forest management will be substantially impacted by climate policies. An opportunity exists to leverage those policies to benefit forest health and wildlife. The Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society is actively working in the policy arena to harness these initiatives to help our conservation mission. Without our involvement, the outcomes could be quite different and not conducive to the active forest management that we know benefits wildlife so greatly. We must be involved in the conversation.
The Role of Forests in Carbon Sequestration and Storage
A little biology is important for understanding the role forests play in climate mitigation. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a greenhouse gas that receives much attention in developing climate policy. Plants remove CO2 from the atmosphere in the photosynthesis process, through which they produce sugars and release oxygen into the atmosphere. Plants also use respiration to convert those sugars to energy for growth, repairs and reproduction, and through this process, they take in oxygen and release CO2. Generally, trees take in more CO2 than they release. This sequestration (or rate of carbon intake) tends to be higher in young, actively growing trees. As trees age, sequestration rates slow, but greater carbon is stored in larger old trees. So, in general, young forests have higher carbon sequestration rates and lower carbon storage than older forests, and vice versa.
When a tree dies, the carbon it stored is gradually released back into the atmosphere as CO2 through the process of decomposition – or in the case of a forest fire, released rapidly through combustion.
Carbon sequestration and storage also vary by tree species and local factors such as water availability and soil structure and chemistry.
Managing Forests for Carbon Sequestration and Storage
Despite the interaction of factors affecting carbon sequestration and storage, beneficial outcomes can be intentionally produced through management directed at the most significant drivers, to manipulate the age and species composition of forest stands. These concepts of intentionally planning and carrying out scientifically-based forest management to achieve desired age and species composition are the same principles RGS & AWS has advocated for 60 years – traditionally intending to provide vibrant forest habitat for ruffed grouse, American woodcock and all forest wildlife. Further, the commercial use of harvested trees is a significant factor in determining the overall carbon benefits of forest management. The decomposition that starts when a tree dies is delayed when harvested trees are turned into products that continues to store carbon. Sustaining the infrastructure, market and demand for forest products can support long-term carbon storage and commercial forestry operations that provide the most efficient opportunity to manage forests for wildlife.
Crafting Carbon Policy to Benefit Conservation
Forests globally absorb approximately 2.6 billion tons of carbon dioxide every year, equivalent to about 1/3 of the CO2 released from burning fossil fuels. Agencies around the world are gaining a greater appreciation for the role that forests play in reducing atmospheric carbon, and RGS & AWS must take a leadership role in promoting policies that also support healthy forests and abundant wildlife. Much of the initial focus of carbon programs have prioritized carbon storage through delayed or deferred timber harvest. Many of which fail to weight the more significant carbon sequestration role of younger, actively growing stands. In sustainably managed forests, you can have your cake and it too; managed forests can provide the carbon-storing power of older forests alongside the carbon sequestering power of young forests. Does that mix of young and old forest sound like good grouse and woodcock habitat? We think so.
Some programs do provide carbon credits for actively managed forest lands, and RGS & AWS is focusing on ways to build and promote those programs to landowners.
Congress and state legislatures are seeking to engage further in carbon policy, creating new opportunities. Increased Congressional appropriations for U.S. Forest Service could be supported by demonstrating how adequate resources could accelerate forest restoration and contribute to carbon sequestration on federal lands. Farm Bill programs or state and federal tax incentives can encourage private lands management, support marketing of wood products and reward forest management like existing incentives for technology-based carbon capture, utilization and storage. RGS & AWS is working with the American Wildlife Conservation Partners to identify policy opportunities. We’re also working with several organizations on a climate statement specific to sportsmen and sportswomen’s interests and how those interests can be a crucial part of public policy discussions surrounding climate change.
A series of surveys have annually assessed public attitude regarding support for the President and Congress to prioritize global climate change (Pew Research Center). For nearly a decade, this support has increased from around 30 percent to 52 percent in a January 2020 survey. Though most of the public’s increasing prioritization has come among Democrats, Republican Congressional leaders are beginning to train their focus on climate initiatives as well. The House Committee on Natural Resources held a legislative hearing early this year on the Trillion Trees Act (H.R. 5859). Republican Congressman Bruce Westerman, a consistent advocate active forest management, introduced the bill to promote practices that sequester greenhouse gases. RGS & AWS will continue to pursue bipartisan backing for realistic conservation programs that support healthy forests and abundant wildlife and continue to present solutions … We must be proactive and welcome engagement from our members, supporters and partners in leading these efforts.
