Biological and market responses of pine forests in the US Southeast to carbon fertilization

Abstract

In the coming decades, climate change is projected to cause carbon dioxide fertilization effects in pine forests in the US Southeast. Resulting changes in pine (loblolly) growth will impact forest markets and regional carbon sequestration. We examine this impact in the context of baseline demand scenarios of increasing sophistication to determine the relative impact of growth and business as usual assumptions on forest growing stock volume, removals, prices and carbon sequestration. We use above-ground biomass data generated from the 3-PG forest growth model based on 20 climate models and Representative Concentration Pathway scenarios 4.5 and 8.5. We examine forest market and carbon sequestration impacts using the Sub-Regional Timber Supply model, with and without climate change-related growth. Results suggest that forest growing stock will increase under all climate change scenarios. Timber prices under carbon fertilization are projected to be lower over the long run.