Abstract
Two sets of initial conditions are used in the investigation of capital return rate and carbon storage in boreal forests. Firstly, a growth model is applied in young stands as early as the inventory-based model is applicable. Secondly, the growth model is applied to observed wooded stands. Four sets of thinning schedules are investigated in either case. The two sets of initial conditions yield similar results. The capital return rate is a weak function of rotation age, which results in variability in the optimal number of thinnings. Reducing the number of thinnings to one increases timber stock but induces a capital return rate deficiency. The deficiency per excess volume unit is smaller if the severity of any thinning is restricted by the removal of large trees only. Omission of thinnings best applies to spruce-dominated stands with stem count less than 2000/ha. Restricted thinning intensity applies to deciduous stands and dense pine stands. The albedo effect increases the benefits of restricted thinnings and increased clearcuttings instead of contradicting the carbon storage.
Highlights
Published: February 1, 2022Peer Review History: PLOS recognizes the benefits of transparency in the peer review process; we enable the publication of all of the content of peer review and author responses alongside final, published articles
This paper investigates carbon storage in boreal forests using a growth model based on large inventory datasets [14]
The two different sets of initial conditions have been described in three earlier investigations [15,16,17]
Summary
The two different sets of initial conditions have been described in three earlier investigations [15,16,17]. The idea was to apply the inventory-based growth model as early in stand development as it is applicable, to avoid approximations of stand development not grounded on the inventory-based growth model [14]. This approach allowed an investigation of a wide range of stand densities, as well as a comprehensive description of the application of three tree species. The distribution of the basal area (cross-sectional area of all trees at breast height) of these acceptable-quality trees into tree species is shown in Fig 1; the basal area of the acceptable-quality trees varied from 28 to 40 m2/ha, in all cases dominated by spruce (Picea abies) trees
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