By Blake Jackson
Forests are vital in the fight against climate change by storing carbon dioxide, but their ability to do so effectively varies depending on land ownership.
A recent study by researcher Nicholas Tait, a graduate of the Masters of Geographic Information Systems at Penn State, sheds light on how forest carbon stocks are distributed across different ownership types.
Tait’s advisor, Associate Professor Melissa Kreye from the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management at Penn State, helped guide his capstone project.
Using high-resolution datasets and geographic analysis tools, Tait investigated the impact of ownership and conservation status on carbon storage at the state and county levels.
Tait study focused on two main carbon pools: aboveground living biomass (e.g., trees and shrubs) and belowground living biomass (e.g., roots).
Tait’s study addressed three key questions:
- How do carbon levels in public forests compare to private forests?
- Which ownership type holds the most aboveground and belowground forest carbon?
- How much forest carbon is in protected areas like fee lands and easements?
The study found that U.S. forests, which absorb over 866 million metric tons of carbon annually, are not evenly distributed in terms of ownership.
Federal lands, particularly in the Pacific Northwest, have the highest concentrations of carbon stocks, while family-owned forests dominate the Southeast.
The Pacific Northwest and Appalachian Mountains boast the highest average carbon stocks per acre, while larger counties in the Southwest store more total carbon due to their size, despite lower carbon densities.
Counties with more protected forest carbon tend to be located in federal lands, underscoring the importance of government policies in carbon preservation.
Tait’s research has significant implications for various stakeholders. Policymakers can use this data to prioritize funding for forest preservation, especially in areas with high carbon stocks and low protection.
Forest owners may find opportunities to enroll their lands in carbon market programs, particularly in regions with high carbon density per acre. "Understanding where carbon-rich forests are located and how they're managed is critical for developing strategies to combat climate change," Tait explains.
With private forest lands making up 69% of U.S. forests, including family, corporate, and investment-based entities, future research could explore the role of management practices in improving carbon sequestration potential. Those interested in county-level data sets can contact Melissa Kreye at mxk1244@psu.edu.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-paul-hartley
Categories: Pennsylvania, Education