By: Greg Podniesinski, Natural Heritage Section Chief, DCNR's Bureau of Forestry

A major factor in climate change is rising atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, driven in large part by emissions from human activity. One strategy to offset rising carbon dioxide is to convert carbon into forms other than atmospheric gases, to tie it up or “sequester” it.

In Pennsylvania, much of our more than 16-million acres of forest land (public and private) are doing just that -- absorbing carbon dioxide gas; and through photosynthesis, turning it into leaves, branches, stems, and roots.

On the 2.2 million acres of state forests, an average acre stores about 250 tons of carbon.

What may surprise you is that, in a healthy forest, up to 40 percent of the carbon is stored in the soil in the form of organic, carbon-rich upper soil layers, microorganisms, invertebrates, and fungi.

Another 23 percent is in the leaf litter and woody debris of the forest floor, while roughly 37 percent of forest carbon is stored in trees themselves.

Managing Forests to Sequester More Carbon

To store (sequester) even more carbon, DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry is evaluating new ways to manage state forests.

One potential strategy is to increase the average rotation time, which means waiting longer to harvest trees.

Older, larger trees store more carbon (though at a slower rate as they age).

Positive side-effects of this strategy are providing more habitat for plants and animals that prefer mature forests, and providing larger timber for durable wood products.

Also, reforesting abandoned strip mines and planting riparian forest buffers contribute to increased carbon storage.

Wood Products Store Carbon

State forests also provide raw material for a variety of wood products that store carbon.

Using wood for furniture, tools, and building materials sequesters carbon for decades or centuries, while providing lasting utility.

While you may not realize it, even landfills store carbon through the burial of discarded wood products and materials (old furniture, demolition debris, paper, cardboard, etc.).

When used as a substitute for materials like steel and cement (which release large amounts of carbon dioxide in their manufacturing), wood use can help reduce carbon emissions.

Wood can also substitute for other, more carbon-intensive materials.

Using wood and wood by-products (like wood chips and sawdust from lumber mills) for fuel can serve to reduce overall carbon emissions by substituting for non-renewable fossil fuels like oil, natural gas, and coal.

While burning wood returns carbon to the atmosphere, regenerating forests on sustainably managed lands removes that carbon again over time.

As DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry continues to examine ways to increase carbon storage and decrease carbon emissions on state forest land, we will likely use a mix of the strategies above while implementing our philosophy of ecosystem management to maintain a healthy, working forest for the benefit of all Pennsylvanians.

We encourage you to takes steps in your lives to sequester carbon while limiting carbon emissions, as well.

Visit DCNR’s Addressing Climate Change On Public Lands webpage to learn more about DCNR’s response.

(Photo: Planting riparian forest buffers creates new forests to further absorb and store carbon.)

(Reprinted from DCNR’s Good Natured Blog.)

NewsClips:

WITF Smart Talk: Earth Day Road Trip Focuses On Climate Change

Hopey: Emotional Testimony Highlights Methane Emissions’ Health Impact Hearing

Sisk: Methane Hearing Draws Concern Over DEP Rules, Talk Of New Technology

Environmental Proponents Tell Senate Hearing: PA Needs Better Methane Regulations 

Op-Ed: Earth Day Message: Weather Is A Moment, Climate Is Lasting - Joseph Minott

DCNR’s Presque Isle Rangers Deploy Electric Motorcycle For Patrol

Hibbard: National Flood Insurance Rate To See Scary Increase

As Weather Patterns Trend Wetter, How Could Fish, Streams Be Affected?

Study Finds Global Action Needed To Ensure Acceptable Climate Futures

Americans’ Energy Use Surges Despite Climate Change Concern

Taxpayer Spending On U.S. Disaster Fund Explodes Amid Climate Change, Population Trends

Health Care, Climate Change Divide Philly-Area Dems In Congress

AP: U.N. Climate Chief Warns Current Path Leads To Catastrophe

Related Stories:

Greater Pittsburgh Chamber: Bills To Aid Nuclear Power Plants Do Not Strike Balance Between A Healthy Environment, Healthy Economy

StateImpact PA: PUC Commissioners Raise Serious Concerns About Bill To Aid Nuclear Power Plants

Senate Committees To Hold Joint Hearing May 1 On Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards

House Committee To Hear From Labor, Electricity Ratepayers, Energy Suppliers On Bill To Aid Nuclear Power Plants April 29

Agenda - House Environmental Committee April 29 Hearing On Nuclear Waste Containment In Light Of TMI Closure

DEP To Release 2018 Climate Action Plan Update As Early As Next Week

PUC Invites Comments On Proposed Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Energy-Efficiency Technical Manual

PUC Adopts Procedure For Approving Alternative Utility Rates To Encourage Energy Conservation, Distributed Power, Renewable Energy

DEP Helps Dedicate Solar Energy Installation At Giant Food Stores Headquarters In Cumberland County

DEP Awards Over $2.8 Million In Clean Energy Vehicle Grants

Senate Democratic Policy Committee Held Hearing In Pittsburgh On Methane And Climate Change

Senate Republican Policy Committee Holds May 1 Workshop On Climate Change Disruption In PA

[Posted: April 27, 2019]

4/29/2019