How much carbon does that tree store? DNR’s urban foresters have answers
By Ear to the Ground

That maple tree in the backyard that seems to produce twice its weight in leaves every fall is more than just good lookin’. In addition to a home for wildlife, summer cooling, rain run-off control and more, that tree — if you live in the city — is part of the urban forest. Trees in urban areas also have a measurable role to play in absorbing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere.

How measurable? The Center for Urban Forestry Research has an updated new Tree Carbon Calculator. It covers six U.S. climate zones and includes new features including emissions factors and energy information for energy conservation by trees in 16 regions.

Enter the tree species, size (diameter-at-breast height) or tree age and find out how much biomass and carbon is stored in the tree. The calculator also helps show the benefits of energy conservation projects. All results are based on tree growth data from each region.

The calculator is a free Excel (Microsoft) application that you can use or download from U.S. Forest Service’s Climate Change Resource Center website, which has a help menu and list of frequently asked questions.

Next year, the Forest Service hopes to post a web-based calculator. But for now, you can download this tool (about 5 MB) and start estimating the carbon sequestration of trees on your home site.

Thanks to Center for Urban Forest Research, part of the US Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station.

Visit the Washington State Urban and Community Forestry Program to find more tools and links to information about the economic, environmental, social and aesthetic benefits of trees.

Rebecca
Country Meadow Ltd.
Eco Friendly Shea Butter Spa Products

www.countrymeadowltd.com

Pacific Northwest forests are biggest carbon storage ‘banks’ in U.S.
By Ear to the Ground

One of the biggest banks for carbon storage in the nation is right here in the Northwest, according to a new analysis released by the Wilderness Society. Several newspapers, including today’s The Olympian (and Tacoma News Tribune) reported the analysis, as did several other newspapers, wire services and many, many blogs, including the L.A. Times’ Greenspace

Calling the Pacific Northwest’s thick, wet forests the “carbon storage powerhouses of the U.S.,” the analysis says 10 national forests in Washington, Oregon and Alaska store more than 1-1/2 times as much carbon as the entire amount of carbon dioxide burned in fossil fuels throughout the country each year.

The study did not focus on other types of forestland ownerships, such as private and state trust forests. In Washington, fewer than 10 percent of forests on state trust land would be considered old forest, but there are different ways to identify “old” when it comes to trees.

Here are two guides that you can download and use in the field to spot the old stands of trees in your part of Washington. Both were developed and published by DNR using the talents of research ecologist Robert Van Pelt, PhD, of the University of Washington. The Washington State Legislature asked DNR to map and inventory old growth forests on state trust lands, and here are the results:

Identifying Mature and Old Forests in Western Washington

Identifying Old Trees and Forests in Eastern Washington

Rebecca
Country Meadow Ltd.
Eco Friendly Shea Butter Spa Products

www.countrymeadowltd.com