Forest restoration and carbon storage in Colorado Front Range ecosystems

Collaborators: Dan Kashian, Wayne State University; Kellen Nelson, Colorado State University

The Coalition for the Upper South Platte, in cooperation with Black Hills Power are interested in using the carbon stored in revegetation efforts on the Hayman fire and other large Colorado Front Range fires to offset carbon emissions for a power plant operator. They are also interested in understanding the potential carbon benefits and costs for forest restoration treatments. For tree planting on the Hayman fire, we estimate carbon accumulation of a typical site index of 45 with 300 established seedlings per acre at 21.9 tonnes CO2 equivalent per acre in 50 years and 67.4 tonnes CO2 equivalent per acre in 90 years. Of that total, 87% is in trees (above and belowground) and 13% in forest floor. The slow growth of ponderosa pine on these sites, and the spare planting density work against rapid carbon accumulation. Using biomass removed from fuels treatments can reduce fossil fuel emissions and generate carbon credits. For a typical forest stand, woody biomass removed through thinning will range from 30% - 60% of existing forest biomass. Ponderosa pine forests with site index 45 on the Pike/San Isabel NF have between 9.0 and 43.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents per acre (tonsCO2/acre) available for removal as biomass in fuel reduction treatments. Biomass available for removal will vary with pre-treatment density, target basal area. Areas with a site index of 65 will yield 10.9 – 51.7 tons CO2/acre. Forested areas with the highest pre-treatment basal areas will yield the greatest amount of biomass fuels and carbon credits. Current guidelines for managing ponderosa pine to limit the risk of crown fires suggest maintaining a basal area of 40 – 60 ft2/acre. Maintenance of forests at these densities will offer opportunities for future biomass removals and carbon credits. Using biomass fuels for energy production may partially compensate for the high cost of fuels reduction treatments and may contribute to the reduction of fossil fuels emissions. See “Ryan, Michael G. 2008. Forests and Carbon Storage. (June 04, 2008). U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Climate Change Resource Center” for a tutorial on forst carbon cycles.		Rodeo-Chedeski Fire, Arizona, Courtesy of AZ Department of Emergengy Management (Gregory Roybal).
Publications Nelson KN, DM Kashian and MG Ryan. 2007. Planting burned areas for carbon sequestration. Final Report, Coalition for the Upper South Platte. Nelson KN, DM Kashian and MG Ryan. 2007. Forest biomass removals for fossil fuels offsets. Final Report, Coalition for the Upper South Platte.
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