Management of plantation forests for bioenergy generation, timber production, carbon emission reductions, and removals

Abstract

Abstract Management of plantation forests for multiple purposes is critically important in the fight against climate change and loss of natural forests. This study aims to assess bioenergy generation, timber production, carbon emission reductions, carbon removals, and related carbon revenues through the management of plantation forests in Myanmar. We used the latest data from the forest resource assessment to develop the forest land use and growing stocks models for fast-growing and slow-growing plantation forests between 2000 and 2040. We found that natural forests lost 2.6% annually but only 0.02% was converted to plantation forests. Total growing stocks for both forest types increased from just 8.9 million m3 in 2000 to 39.8 million m3 in 2040. Total carbon removals were 1.2 Tg CO2 yr−1 between 2000 and 2040 and 1.3 Tg CO2 yr−1 during the Paris Agreement timeframe. The use of thinned wood and wood biomasses to substitute the fossil combustion could reduce 12.7 Tg CO2 yr−1 of carbon emissions. If combined, total emission reductions from bioenergy generation and carbon removals accounts for 82% of Myanmar's total emissions in energy sector. This study concludes that management of plantation forest could contribute to climate change mitigation while reducing timber demand from natural forests.