Status and potential of terrestrial carbon sequestration in West Virginia

Benktesh D. Sharma; Jingxin Wang

Treesearch

Status and potential of terrestrial carbon sequestration in West Virginia

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Benktesh D. Sharma, Jingxin Wang

Year:

2011

Type:

General Technical Report - Proceedings

Station:

Northern Research Station

Source:

In: Fei, Songlin; Lhotka, John M.; Stringer, Jeffrey W.; Gottschalk, Kurt W.; Miller, Gary W., eds. Proceedings, 17th central hardwood forest conference; 2010 April 5-7; Lexington, KY; Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-78. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 143-152.

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Abstract

Terrestrial ecosystem management offers cost-effective ways to enhance carbon (C) sequestration. This study utilized C stock and C sequestration in forest and agricultural lands, abandoned mine lands, and harvested wood products to estimate the net current annual C sequestration in West Virginia. Several management options within these components were simulated using a systems modeling approach to estimate C sequestration potentials. With such activities as substituting unused biomass resources for bioenergy production, converting marginal lands to forest covers, and extending the life of harvested wood products, atmospheric C sequestration by terrestrial ecosystems in West Virginia can be increased to 8.40 million t C/year from the current level of 5.50 million t C/year. These activities have the potential to provide additional benefi ts in terms of energy savings and CO₂ emission reduction at the source compared to other available carbon sequestration alternatives.

Parent Publication

Proceedings, 17th Central Hardwood Forest Conference

Citation

Sharma, Benktesh D.; Wang, Jingxin. 2011. Status and potential of terrestrial carbon sequestration in West Virginia. In: Fei, Songlin; Lhotka, John M.; Stringer, Jeffrey W.; Gottschalk, Kurt W.; Miller, Gary W., eds. Proceedings, 17th central hardwood forest conference; 2010 April 5-7; Lexington, KY; Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-78. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 143-152.