Northern Research Station

Title: Forest carbon estimation using the Forest Vegetation Simulator: Seven things you need to know

Author: Hoover, Coeli M.; Rebain, Stephanie A.

Date: 2011

Source: Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-77. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 16 p.

Station ID: GTR-NRS-77

Description: Interest in options for forest-related greenhouse gas mitigation is growing, and so is the need to assess the carbon implications of forest management actions. Generating estimates of key carbon pools can be time consuming and cumbersome, and exploring the carbon consequences of management alternatives is often a complicated task. In response to this, carbon reporting capability has been added to the Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) growth and yield modeling system, allowing users to produce carbon reports along with traditional FVS outputs. All methods and computations are consistent with Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Good Practice Guidance and U.S. voluntary carbon accounting rules and guidelines. We briefly describe the FVS system, outline the carbon pools estimated, and provide an overview of the data requirements, capabilities, features, and limitations of the model and the carbon reports. We also review common questions and pitfalls encountered by users when running the model.

Keywords: Forest Vegetation Simulator, forest carbon estimation, forest carbon sequestration, harvested wood products

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Citation

Hoover, Coeli M.; Rebain, Stephanie A.  2011.  Forest carbon estimation using the Forest Vegetation Simulator: Seven things you need to know.   Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-77. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 16 p..