Page 19 - Climate Change Impacts in the United States

7: FORESTS
TRaceable accounTs

carbon cycle will be affected by climate change through changes
in disturbances (Key Message 1), growth rates, and harvest Key message #4 Traceable accounT
demands. Forest management responses to climate change
will be influenced by the changing nature of private
Key message #3 Traceable accounT forestland ownership, globalization of forestry mar-
Bioenergy could emerge as a new market for kets, emerging markets for bioenergy, and U.S. cli-
wood and could aid in the restoration of forests mate change policy.
killed by drought, insects, and fire.
Description of evidence base
Description of evidence base The key message and supporting text summarizes extensive evi-
The key message and supporting text summarize extensive evi- dence documented in the TIR, “Effects of Climatic Variability and
dence documented in the TIR, “Effects of Climatic Variability and Change on Forest Ecosystems: A Comprehensive Science Synthe-
1
Change on Forest Ecosystems: A Comprehensive Science Synthe- sis for the U.S. Forest Sector.” Technical input reports (58) on a
1
sis for the U.S. Forest Sector.” Technical input reports (58) on a wide range of topics were also received and reviewed as part of the
wide range of topics were also received and reviewed as part of the Federal Register Notice solicitation for public input.
Federal Register Notice solicitation for public input.
The forest management response to climate change in urban ar-
Studies have shown that harvesting forest bioenergy can prevent eas, the wildland-urban interface, and in rural areas has been
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carbon emissions and replace a portion of U.S. energy consump- studied from varying angles. The literature on urban forests iden-
tion to help reduce future climate change. Some newer literature tifies the value of those forests to clean air, aesthetics, and rec-
has explored how use of forest bioenergy can replace a portion of reation and suggests that under a changing climate, urban com-
current U.S. energy production from oil. 20,45 Some more recent munities will continue to enhance their environment with trees and
publications have reported some environmental benefits, such urban forests. 1,41 In the wildland-urban area and the rural areas,
as improved water quality 56,57 and better management of timber the changing composition of private forest landowners will affect
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lands, that can result from forest bioenergy implementation. the forest management response to climate change. Shifts in
corporate owners to include investment organizations that may or
New information and remaining uncertainties may not have forest management as a primary objective has been
1,2
The implications of forest product use for bioenergy depends on described nationally. Family forest owners are an aging demo-
regional context and circumstances, such as feedstock type and graphic; one in five acres of forestland is owned by someone who
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prior management, land conditions, transport and storage logis- is at least 75 years of age. Multiple reasons for ownership are
tics, conversion processes used to produce energy, distribution given by family forest owners, including the most commonly cited
and use. 58 reasons of beauty/scenery, to pass land on to heirs, privacy, nature
protection, and part of home/cabin. Many family forest owners feel
The potential for biomass energy to increase forest harvests it is necessary to keep the woods healthy but many are not familiar
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has led to debates about whether biomass energy is net carbon with forest management practices. Long-term studies of the for-
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neutral. The debate on biogenic emissions regulations revolves est sector in the southern United States document the adaptive
around how to account for emissions related to biomass produc- response of forest landowners to market prices as they manage to
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tion and use. Deforestation contributes to atmospheric CO2 con- supply wood and associated products from their forests; how-
centration, and that contribution has been declining over time. ever prices are less of an incentive in other parts of the United
The bioenergy contribution question is largely one of incentives States. 1,41 Econometric approaches have been used to explore the
for appropriate management. When forests have no value, they economic activities in the forest sector, including interactions with
are burned or used inappropriately. Bioenergy can be produced other sectors such as agriculture, impact of climate change, and
in a way that provides more benefits than costs or vice versa. the potential for new markets with bioenergy. 43,44 An earlier study
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The market for energy from biomass appears to be ready to grow explored the effects of globalization on forest management and
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in response to energy pricing, policy, and demand; however, this a newer study looked at the effect of U.S. climate change policy.
industry is yet to be made a large-scale profitable enterprise in One of the biggest challenges is the lack of climate change infor-
most regions of the United States. mation that results in inaction from many forest owners. 62

Assessment of confidence based on evidence New information and remaining uncertainties
High. Forest growth substantially exceeds annual harvest for Human concerns regarding the effects of climate change on
normal wood and paper products, and much forest harvest residue forests and the role of adaptation and mitigation will be viewed
is now unutilized. Forest bioenergy will become viable if policy and from the perspective of the values that forests provide to human
economic energy valuations make it competitive with fossil fuels. populations, including timber products, water, recreation, and
1
aesthetic and spiritual benefits. Many people, organizations, in-

193 CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS IN THE UNITED STATES