FVSFVSFVSCarbon Reporting

Using the Forest Vegetation Simulator

USDA Forest ServiceForest Management Service CenterForest Vegetation Simulator staff

FVSFVSFVSCarbon Reporting Using the Forest

Vegetation Simulator

Collaborators

Stephanie Rebain – USDA FS, FVS Group, WO-DDon Robinson – ESSA Technologies Ltd., Vancouver B.C.Nick Crookston - USDA FS, Rocky Mountain Research StationCoeli Hoover - USDA FS, Northern Research StationLinda Heath - USDA FS Northern Research StationJim Smith - USDA FS, Northern Research StationRichard Birdsey - USDA FS, Northern Research Station

FVSFVSFVS• Tracks variables such as fire hazard, fuel Tracks variables such as fire hazard, fuel

loading, and snag levels over timeloading, and snag levels over time

• In addition to thinning and harvesting, In addition to thinning and harvesting, users can simulate wildfires, prescribed users can simulate wildfires, prescribed burns, and other types of fuel treatments burns, and other types of fuel treatments such as chipping and pileburns.such as chipping and pileburns.

• Calibrated for most FVS variants (not AK Calibrated for most FVS variants (not AK and CS)and CS)

• Southern variant specifically calibrated for Southern variant specifically calibrated for the Ozark-Ouachita Mountains, but is being the Ozark-Ouachita Mountains, but is being expanded.expanded.

Fire and Fuels ExtensionFire and Fuels Extension

FVSFVSFVS

• Assess fuel levels and fire hazardAssess fuel levels and fire hazard

• To compare fuel management To compare fuel management prescriptionsprescriptions

• Create visual images of stand conditions Create visual images of stand conditions and fire hazard for communication with and fire hazard for communication with the publicthe public

• Examine tradeoffs between fire hazard Examine tradeoffs between fire hazard reduction and other objectives, such as reduction and other objectives, such as wildlife habitatwildlife habitat

FFE ApplicationsFFE Applications

FVSFVSFVSFFE combines the vegetation predictions of FFE combines the vegetation predictions of

FVS with:FVS with:

• Existing fire behavior and effects models Existing fire behavior and effects models (Behave, FOFEM, Consume, Nexus)(Behave, FOFEM, Consume, Nexus)

• Estimates of fuel accumulation and decayEstimates of fuel accumulation and decay

• Estimates of snag fall down and decay Estimates of snag fall down and decay

FFE Model ComponentsFFE Model Components

FVSFVSFVS• Potential Fire reportPotential Fire report

• Fuels report (biomass values)Fuels report (biomass values)

• Burn Conditions report (for simulated fires)Burn Conditions report (for simulated fires)

• Fuel Consumption report (for simulated Fuel Consumption report (for simulated fires)fires)

• Mortality report (for simulated fires)Mortality report (for simulated fires)

• Snag reportsSnag reports

• Carbon reportsCarbon reports

FFE Model OutputFFE Model Output

FVSFVSFVS• Every stand component has a biomassEvery stand component has a biomass

• Estimates biomass (tons/acre) in:Estimates biomass (tons/acre) in:• Surface fuel (by category)Surface fuel (by category)

• Dead standing treesDead standing trees

• Live standing treesLive standing trees

• Estimates biomass removed and biomass consumedEstimates biomass removed and biomass consumed

FFE Fuels ReportFFE Fuels Report

FVSFVSFVS• Biomass estimates are DRY tons/acreBiomass estimates are DRY tons/acre

• Live and dead tree biomass is composed of 2 Live and dead tree biomass is composed of 2 pieces:pieces:

Crown biomassCrown biomass

• Based on tree specs (species, dbh, etc.)Based on tree specs (species, dbh, etc.)

• From published literature (papers by From published literature (papers by Brown and others) Brown and others)

Biomass of main stemBiomass of main stem

Biomass CalculationsBiomass Calculations

FVSFVSFVSBiomass of main stem:Biomass of main stem:

• Based on volume estimate (cuft)Based on volume estimate (cuft)

• Then a lbs/cuft conversion factor is assumedThen a lbs/cuft conversion factor is assumed

• lbs/cuft factors are derived from the species- lbs/cuft factors are derived from the species- based specific gravity values in the Wood based specific gravity values in the Wood HandbookHandbook

Example: specific gravity of Example: specific gravity of Ponderosa pine is 0.38.Ponderosa pine is 0.38.

0.38 * 62.372 = 23.7 lbs/cuft0.38 * 62.372 = 23.7 lbs/cuft

• Biomass is not reduced for defectBiomass is not reduced for defect

Biomass CalculationsBiomass Calculations

FVSFVSFVS• Every stand component has carbon Every stand component has carbon

• Estimates carbon (tons/acre or metric tons/ha) in:Estimates carbon (tons/acre or metric tons/ha) in:• Live trees and dead trees (above and below ground)Live trees and dead trees (above and below ground)

• Surface fuel (down dead wood, forest floor (litter & duff), Surface fuel (down dead wood, forest floor (litter & duff), and herbs/shrubs)and herbs/shrubs)

• Estimates carbon removed from the standEstimates carbon removed from the stand

• CarbRept keyword produces reportCarbRept keyword produces report

Carbon ReportCarbon Report

FVSFVSFVS• Tons/acre of carbon = 0.5*tons/acre of biomass Tons/acre of carbon = 0.5*tons/acre of biomass

(except forest floor is 0.37*biomass)(except forest floor is 0.37*biomass)

• Reported in tons/acre or metric tons/haReported in tons/acre or metric tons/ha

• Values based on FFE fuels report biomass Values based on FFE fuels report biomass estimates or uses biomass estimates in Jenkins estimates or uses biomass estimates in Jenkins et. al. (Forest Science 2003)et. al. (Forest Science 2003)

• Jenkins equations are based on national meta-Jenkins equations are based on national meta-analysis (simplified equations based on dbh analysis (simplified equations based on dbh and 10 species groups)and 10 species groups)

FFE Stand Carbon ReportFFE Stand Carbon Report

FVSFVSFVS• Follows merch harvested carbon through timeFollows merch harvested carbon through time

• Estimates harvested carbon in four categories:Estimates harvested carbon in four categories:• Forest ProductsForest Products

• LandfillLandfill

• Energy – emitted with energy captureEnergy – emitted with energy capture

• Emissions – emitted without energy captureEmissions – emitted without energy capture

• Based on Smith, Heath, Skog and Birdsey 2006 Based on Smith, Heath, Skog and Birdsey 2006 (GTR-NE-343)(GTR-NE-343)

FFE Harvested Carbon ReportFFE Harvested Carbon Report

FVSFVSFVS• Oak-hickory stand in the OzarksOak-hickory stand in the Ozarks

• Inventoried in 1996 - 130 ft2/acreInventoried in 1996 - 130 ft2/acre

• Compare a no management simulation with a Compare a no management simulation with a shelterwood simulationshelterwood simulation

• 2006 – prep cut - 120 ft2/acre (min. dbh = 4”)2006 – prep cut - 120 ft2/acre (min. dbh = 4”)

• 2011 – sheltewood cut - 70 ft2/acre2011 – sheltewood cut - 70 ft2/acre

• 2016 – removal cut2016 – removal cut

• Regeneration included in simulationsRegeneration included in simulations

ExampleExample

FVSFVSFVS ExampleExample

YearTrees per Acre

Basal Area (ft2/acre)

Canopy Cover (%)

Stand Carbon (tons/acre)

1996 892.0 131.9 86.1 55.2

2001 865.4 141.2 87.8 59.2

2006 840.8 149.1 89.1 63.9

2011 843.9 158.2 90.4 68.1

2016 836.5 164.9 91.3 72.1

2021 807.1 166.5 91.4 76.3

2026 779.0 168.8 91.6 80.0

2031 751.4 169.8 91.6 82.8

2036 728.9 171.5 91.7 84.9

2041 705.7 172.5 91.8 87.2

• No Action simulationNo Action simulation

FVSFVSFVS ExampleExample

• Shelterwood simulationShelterwood simulation

Year

Trees per Acre

Basal Area (ft2/acre)

Canopy Cover (%)

Stand Carbon (tons/acre)

Removed Carbon (tons/acre)

1996 892.0 131.9 86.1 55.2 0.0

2001 865.4 141.2 87.8 59.2 0.0

2006 730.1 135.6 85.4 62.3 1.2

2011 792.9 87.8 71.6 52.7 11.9

2016 996.7 21.1 41.0 31.5 18.8

2021 1110.2 27.6 50.0 26.8 0.0

2026 1099.5 36.8 60.7 25.2 0.0

2031 1088.7 47.3 69.7 25.5 0.0

2036 1077.9 58.8 76.8 27.2 0.0

2041 1067.1 70.4 82.3 30.0 0.0

FVSFVSFVS ExampleExample

Forest Stand Carbon

0.010.020.030.040.050.060.070.080.090.0

100.0

1996 2001 2006 2011 2016 2021 2026 2031 2036 2041

Year

To

ns/

Acr

e

No Action

Shelterwood

FVSFVSFVS ExampleExample

• Shelterwood simulation (CarbCut keyword)Shelterwood simulation (CarbCut keyword)

FVSFVSFVS ExampleExample

• Shelterwood simulation (CarbRept keyword)Shelterwood simulation (CarbRept keyword)

FVSFVSFVS• No statistics output (CIs, sampling error) and No statistics output (CIs, sampling error) and

currently can only estimate biomass and currently can only estimate biomass and carbon at the stand level (not for individual carbon at the stand level (not for individual plots)plots)

• Stem biomass / carbon calculated from Stem biomass / carbon calculated from volume does not include barkvolume does not include bark

• How good are these estimates anyway? How good are these estimates anyway? Validation is necessary!Validation is necessary!

LimitationsLimitations

FVSFVSFVS FVS Support StaffFVS Support Staff

Forest Management Service Center2150 Centre Ave, Bldg. A, Suite 341aFort Collins, CO 80526

FVS Hotline 970-295-5770

Erin Smith-Mateja 541-471-6706

Gary Dixon Bob HavisChad Keyser Stephanie RebainErin Smith-Mateja Don Vandendriesche