Effect of landscape-level fuel treatments on carbon emissions and storage over a 50 yr time cycle

K. Osborne; C. Dicus; C. Isbell; Alan Ager; David R. Weise; M. Landram

Treesearch

Effect of landscape-level fuel treatments on carbon emissions and storage over a 50 yr time cycle

Informally Refereed

Authors:

K. Osborne, C. Dicus, C. Isbell, Alan Ager, David R. Weise, M. Landram

Year:

2011

Type:

Proceedings

Station:

Pacific Southwest Research Station

Source:

In Wade, D.D.; Robinson, M.L. (eds) Proceedings of the 3rd Fire Behavior and Fuel Conference, Oct. 25-29,2010, Spokane, Washington, USA. International Association of Wildland Fire, Birmingham, Alabama, USA. 5 p

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Abstract

We investigated how multiple fuel treatment types, organized in varying spatial arrangements, and at increasing proportions of a mixed-conifer forest in the Klamath Mountains of northern California (~20,000 ha) variably affect carbon sequestration and emissions over a 50 year time period. Preliminary analysis of three fuel treatment scenarios (fire only, mechanical only, and fire + mechanical) and an untreated landscape indicates that treating large areas with prescribed fire may increase carbon emissions in the short term but may be off-set by an increase in long term carbon storage.

Citation

Osborne, K.; Dicus, C.; Isbell, C.; Ager, A.; Weise, D.; Landram, M. 2011. Effect of landscape-level fuel treatments on carbon emissions and storage over a 50 yr time cycle. In Wade, D.D.; Robinson, M.L. (eds) Proceedings of the 3rd Fire Behavior and Fuel Conference, Oct. 25-29,2010, Spokane, Washington, USA. International Association of Wildland Fire, Birmingham, Alabama, USA. 5 p.