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73 chAPTeR 5. Forecasts of Forest Conditions Robert Huggett, David N. Wear, Ruhong Li, John Coulston, and Shan Liu 1 key FiNDiNGS • Among the five forest management types, only planted pine is expected to increase in area. In 2010 planted pine comprised 19 percent of southern forests. By 2060, planted pine is forecasted to comprise somewhere between 24 and 36 percent of forest area. • Although predicted rates of change vary, all forecasts reveal that land use changes and conversion to pine plantations will result in a continuing downward trend in naturally regenerated pine types. • Changes in forest types are influenced by urbanization and timber markets: hardwood types are most strongly influenced by urbanization; softwood types are most sensitive to future timber market conditions. • Reversing a 50-year trend of accumulating about 2.5 billion cubic feet per year, forest biomass is forecasted to increase slightly over the next 10 to 20 years and then decline gradually. • After accounting for harvests, forest growth, land use, and climate change, the total carbon pool represented by the South’s forests is forecasted to increase slightly from 2010 to 2020/2030 and then decline. • Urbanization patterns are the dominant determinates of the size of the future forest carbon pool, although stronger forest product markets can ameliorate carbon losses. • Because of increases in timber supply from 1990 to 2010, removals of forest biomass (growing stock) are forecasted to increase for all Cornerstones, including those that project decreasing prices. This reflects an outward shift in timber supply associated with forest inventories between 1990 and 2010. 1 Robert Huggett is a Research Assistant Professor, Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695. David N. Wear is the Project Leader, Center for Integrated Forest Science, Southern Research Station, U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Raleigh, NC 27695. Ruhong Li is a Research Associate, Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695. John Coulston is a Supervisory Research Forester, Forest Inventory and Analysis Research Work Unit, Southern Research Station, U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Knoxville, TN 37919. Shan Liu is a Research Assistant, Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695. • Removals of softwood pulpwood are responsive to futures for forest planting and product prices. Under a high price future, softwood pulpwood output would increase by 56 percent, roughly equal to the expansion observed between 1950 and 2000. • Although the overall loss of upland hardwood acreage is forecasted to be in the range of 8 to 14 percent, the oak- hickory forest type remains essentially constant while the areas of other forest types decline at higher rates. The yellow-poplar forest type is forecasted to decline the most, with the highest losses forecasted for the Piedmont. • The age and species structure of softwood forest types are most strongly influenced by forest harvesting and management tied to timber markets. This is not the case for hardwood forests. • The future structure of hardwood forests is most strongly affected by urbanization-driven land use changes (increased population growth and income). • Reductions of naturally regenerated pine forests are not equally distributed among age classes. Mid-age and early- age forests decline, but old-age forests remain relatively constant. • The distribution of upland and lowland hardwoods shifts, with less of these forest management types classified as early age and more classified as older age. iNTRoDucTioN The South’s forests have been shaped by a long history of harvesting, forest management, and land use conversions. European settlers began a wave of farming and land clearing that continued to expand until around 1920 (USDA Forest Service 1988). Starting in the 1920s, extensive farm abandonment resulted in widespread forest establishment and old-field succession. With this period of forest recovery, forest area and forest biomass grew steadily through much of the 20 th century and forest area peaked in the 1960s. In the 1970s and 1980s, industrial scale agriculture led to some losses in forest acreage especially in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley, and in the 1990s, urbanization became the dominant dynamic affecting forest area (Wear and Greis 2002). Despite these losses since the 1970s, the volume of growing stock (a measure of standing forest biomass) grew by more than 75 percent while industrial output of wood products more Chapter 5. Forecasts of Forest conditions

Chapter 5. Forecasts of Forest conditions · chAPTeR 5. Forecasts of Forest Conditions Robert Huggett, David N. Wear, Ruhong Li, John Coulston, and Shan Liu1 key FiNDiNGS • Among

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Page 1: Chapter 5. Forecasts of Forest conditions · chAPTeR 5. Forecasts of Forest Conditions Robert Huggett, David N. Wear, Ruhong Li, John Coulston, and Shan Liu1 key FiNDiNGS • Among

73chAPTeR 5. Forecasts of Forest Conditions

RobertHuggett,DavidN.Wear,RuhongLi, JohnCoulston,andShanLiu1

key FiNDiNGS

•Amongthefiveforestmanagementtypes,onlyplantedpineisexpectedtoincreaseinarea.In2010plantedpinecomprised19percentofsouthernforests.By2060,plantedpineisforecastedtocomprisesomewherebetween24and36percentofforestarea.

•Althoughpredictedratesofchangevary,allforecastsrevealthatlandusechangesandconversiontopineplantationswillresultinacontinuingdownwardtrendinnaturallyregeneratedpinetypes.

•Changesinforesttypesareinfluencedbyurbanizationandtimbermarkets:hardwoodtypesaremoststronglyinfluencedbyurbanization;softwoodtypesaremostsensitivetofuturetimbermarketconditions.

•Reversinga50-yeartrendofaccumulatingabout2.5billioncubicfeetperyear,forestbiomassisforecastedtoincreaseslightlyoverthenext10to20yearsandthendeclinegradually.

•Afteraccountingforharvests,forestgrowth,landuse,andclimatechange,thetotalcarbonpoolrepresentedbytheSouth’sforestsisforecastedtoincreaseslightlyfrom2010to2020/2030andthendecline.

•Urbanizationpatternsarethedominantdeterminatesofthesizeofthefutureforestcarbonpool,althoughstrongerforestproductmarketscanamelioratecarbonlosses.

•Becauseofincreasesintimbersupplyfrom1990to2010,removalsofforestbiomass(growingstock)areforecastedtoincreaseforallCornerstones,includingthosethatprojectdecreasingprices.Thisreflectsanoutwardshiftintimbersupplyassociatedwithforestinventoriesbetween1990and2010.

1RobertHuggettisaResearchAssistantProfessor,DepartmentofForestryandEnvironmentalResources,NorthCarolinaStateUniversity,Raleigh,NC27695.DavidN.WearistheProjectLeader,CenterforIntegratedForestScience,SouthernResearchStation,U.S.DepartmentofAgricultureForestService,Raleigh,NC27695.RuhongLiisaResearchAssociate,DepartmentofForestryandEnvironmentalResources,NorthCarolinaStateUniversity,Raleigh,NC27695.JohnCoulstonisaSupervisoryResearchForester,ForestInventoryandAnalysisResearchWorkUnit,SouthernResearchStation,U.S.DepartmentofAgricultureForestService,Knoxville,TN37919.ShanLiuisaResearchAssistant,DepartmentofForestryandEnvironmentalResources,NorthCarolinaStateUniversity,Raleigh,NC27695.

•Removalsofsoftwoodpulpwoodareresponsivetofuturesforforestplantingandproductprices.Underahighpricefuture,softwoodpulpwoodoutputwouldincreaseby56percent,roughlyequaltotheexpansionobservedbetween1950and2000.

•Althoughtheoveralllossofuplandhardwoodacreageisforecastedtobeintherangeof8to14percent,theoak-hickoryforesttyperemainsessentiallyconstantwhiletheareasofotherforesttypesdeclineathigherrates.Theyellow-poplarforesttypeisforecastedtodeclinethemost,withthehighestlossesforecastedforthePiedmont.

•Theageandspeciesstructureofsoftwoodforesttypesaremoststronglyinfluencedbyforestharvestingandmanagementtiedtotimbermarkets.Thisisnotthecaseforhardwoodforests.

•Thefuturestructureofhardwoodforestsismoststronglyaffectedbyurbanization-drivenlandusechanges(increasedpopulationgrowthandincome).

•Reductionsofnaturallyregeneratedpineforestsarenotequallydistributedamongageclasses.Mid-ageandearly-ageforestsdecline,butold-ageforestsremainrelativelyconstant.

•Thedistributionofuplandandlowlandhardwoodsshifts,withlessoftheseforestmanagementtypesclassifiedasearlyageandmoreclassifiedasolderage.

iNTRoDucTioN

TheSouth’sforestshavebeenshapedbyalonghistoryofharvesting,forestmanagement,andlanduseconversions.Europeansettlersbeganawaveoffarmingandlandclearingthatcontinuedtoexpanduntilaround1920(USDAForestService1988).Startinginthe1920s,extensivefarmabandonmentresultedinwidespreadforestestablishmentandold-fieldsuccession.Withthisperiodofforestrecovery,forestareaandforestbiomassgrewsteadilythroughmuchofthe20thcenturyandforestareapeakedinthe1960s.Inthe1970sand1980s,industrialscaleagricultureledtosomelossesinforestacreageespeciallyintheMississippiAlluvialValley,andinthe1990s,urbanizationbecamethedominantdynamicaffectingforestarea(WearandGreis2002).Despitetheselossessincethe1970s,thevolumeofgrowingstock(ameasureofstandingforestbiomass)grewbymorethan75percentwhileindustrialoutputofwoodproductsmore

Chapter 5. Forecasts of Forest conditions

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74The Southern Forest Futures Project

thandoubledoverthelasthalfofthe20thcentury(Wearandothers2007).

TheexpansionoftimberharvestsintheSouthoutpacedthatofallotherregionsoftheUnitedStates.Asof2007,theSouth’stimberoutputwasmorethantwice1952levels.About60percentofalltimberproducedintheUnitedStateswasfromsouthernforests(Smithandothers2009)comparedtoabout40percentin1962,indicatingashiftingofproductioncapacitytotheregionaswellasincreasedoutput.ThisrelocationofproductiveactivityreflectstheSouth’scomparativeadvantageingrowingtimberandanewproductmixthatfavorssmallerdiametertrees.Whilesoftwoodscompriseamajorityofharvests(69percent),hardwoodharvestsarealsosubstantial.

Thischapterexplorestheongoingandpotentialfuturechangesaffectingsouthernforests.Severaluncertainties

cloudourabilitytopredictthatfuture.AstheSouth’seconomyexpands,populationandattendanturbanizationcontinuetooutpaceallotherregions.Attheendofthe20thcentury,shiftsinmarketdemandslowedthesteadyprogressionoftimberharvesting.Newpoliciespursuenewdemandsfortimbertoprovidecellulose-basedbioenergy.Anticipatedclimatechangesraisekeyquestionsaboutthefutureproductivityandcompositionofforests.Andalthoughforestsarebytheirnaturedynamic,therehavebeenbothanaccelerationandaninteractionofchangesinsouthernforeststhatcannotbeunderstoodwithoutcomprehensiveanalysis.

Amodelingsystemdesignedtoforecasttheinteractionsofvarioussocial,economic,andbiophysicaldriversandthestructureandextentoffutureforestsisusedinthischaptertoexploretheimplicationsofthechangesthatwillaffectsouthernforests(seetextboxonfollowingpage,table5.1,andfig.5.1).Keytothesystemisasetofscenarios,called

Table 5.1—Definition of Cornerstone Futures used in the Southern Forest Futures Project, based on two storylines from the 2010 Resources Planning Act (RPA) Assessment and three general circulation models

cornerstone Futures RPA Storylines General circulation

modelTimber prices

Planting ratesTag label label

economic growth

Population growth

A High growth/high prices A1B High Moderate MIROC Increasing BaseB High growth/low prices A1B High Moderate CSIRO Decreasing BaseC Low growth/high prices B2 Low Low CSIRO Increasing BaseD Low growth/low prices B2 Low Low Hadley Decreasing BaseE High growth/high prices/high planting A1B High Moderate MIROC Increasing HighF Low growth/low prices/low planting B2 Low Low Hadley Decreasing Low

Figure5.1—ThesixCornerstoneFuturesdefinedbypermutationsoftwo2010ResourcesPlanningAct(RPA)Assessment/IntergovernmentalPanelonClimateChangestorylinesandtwotimberpricefutures;andthenextendedbyevaluatingincreasedanddecreasedforestplantingrates.

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75chAPTeR 5. Forecasts of Forest Conditions

CornerstoneFutures,whichweredevelopedtorepresentabroadrangeofplausiblefutures(chapter2).ForeachCornerstoneFuture,themodelingsystemsimulateschangesinforestarea,shiftsamongforesttypes,theamountanddistributionofforestbiomass,harvestremovals,andchangesintheforestcarbonpool.Totheextentpossible,weexaminevariationacrossthefivesubregionsoftheSouthandfocusonthespatialdistributioninforestconditions.Thesefindingsprovideafoundationforfurtherexplorationoftimbermarkets(chapter9),bioenergyfutures(chapter10),andimpactsonwildlife,biodiversity,andforestcommunities(chapter14).

meThoDS

TheresultsexaminedinthischapterarebasedontheU.S.ForestAssessmentSystem,amodelingsystemdesignedtoforecastalternativefuturesforU.S.forests.2TheU.S.ForestAssessmentSystemisaforward-lookingadjuncttotheForestInventoryandAnalysis(FIA)ProgramoftheForestService,U.S.DepartmentofAgriculture,andwasimplementedbyresearchanddevelopmentstaffoftheForestService.TheFIAprogramprovidesnationwidemonitoringthroughrepeatedinventoriesthatprovideconsistencyovertimeandahighlevelofdetail.TheU.S.ForestAssessmentSystemaccountsforchangesdrivenbymultiplevectorsincludingbiological,physical,andhumanfactorstogenerateforecastsofforestinventories.Themodelingapproachisdesignedtoaddresschangingclimate,market-driventimberharvesting,andlandusechangesalongwithchangesdrivenbysuccessionaltransitionsinforestconditions.

Ageneralschematicofthismodelingsystem(fig.5.2)startswithasetofinternallyconsistentcombinationsofsocial,economic,andtechnologyforecastsdefinedastheCornerstoneFutures(alsocalledCornerstonesinthisbook)forthisapplicationoftheU.S.ForestAssessmentSystem.LinkedtotheCornerstonesarevariousgeneralcirculationmodels(climatemodels,orGCMs),eachselectedtodefineaclimateforecastthatisconsistentwiththeCornerstone.Alsolinkedaredatafromaforestinventoryserver,whichdefinesstartingconditionsforallplotsintheforestinventory.

Themodelingframeworkatthecenterofthissystem(middlecolumnoffig.5.2)showshowfutureforestconditionsaredrivenbybiologicaldynamics—suchasgrowthandmortality—whichinturnareaffectedbyclimatefactors.Inaddition,humanchoicesregardingallocationsamonglandusesandthedisposalofforestland,timberharvesting,andforestmanagementalsoaffectchangesinforests.Theinterplayofallofthesefactorsyieldsasetofoutputs,each

2BecauseofdatalimitationstheU.S.ForestAssessmentSystemdoesnotyetaddresschangesinforestconditionsinTexasandOklahomaoutsideoftheireasternsurveyunitsthatareheavilyforested.

The cornerstone Futures

TheSouthernForestFuturesProjectusessixCornerstoneFutures(labeledwithlettersAtoF)toprovidealternativescenariosregardingthefutureofseveralexogenousvariables(table5.1).Thesearebasedonacombinationofcounty-levelpopulation/incomeprojectionsfromtheResourcesPlanningAct(RPA)andIntergovernmentalPanelonClimateChange(IPCC)Assessments,assumptionsaboutfuturetimberscarcity,andassumptionsabouttreeplantingrates(seechapter2fordetails).

TwoRPA/IPCCstorylines,labeledA1BandB2areusedfortheCornerstones.B2providesalowerrateofpopulationgrowth(a40percentincreasebetween2010and2060),andA1Bprovidesasomewhathigherrateofgrowth(60percent).IncomegrowthishigherwithA1B.Bothofthesestorylinesareconnectedtodetailedglobaleconomic/demographicscenariosthataredescribedintheIPCCandRPAreports(IPCC2007a,2007b;USDAForestService2012).

Timberpricefutureseitheraddressincreasingordecreasingscarcitywithanorderlyprogressionofrealpricesfortimber:eitherincreasingordecreasinginrealtermsatonepercentperyearfromabasein2005through2060.WealsoholdtherealreturnstocropsconstantthroughouttheforecastsforallCornerstoneFutures.

AnotherelementofthestorylinesembeddedintheseCornerstonesistheclimateforecastedusinggeneralcirculationmodels(GCMs)appliedtotheassumptionsofthestorylines.Forecastvariablesincludechangesintemperature,precipitation,andderivedpotentialevapotranspirationdownscaledtocounties.WeutilizethreedifferentGCMsinconstructingtheCornerstonestoaddressthepotentialvariabilityinspatialdistributionofresultingchangestoforests.Moredetailonclimateinputstotheforecastsiscontainedinchapters2and3.

Infigure5.1,thesixCornerstoneFuturesaredisplayedinadiagramthatemphasizestheirkeyvariables.CornerstonesA-DaredefinedbythematrixformedbyintersectingRPA/IPCCstorylinesA1BandB2withincreasinganddecreasingtimberpricefuturesasdescribedabove.ThesefourCornerstonesusehistoricaltreeplantingratesfollowingharvests(byStateandforesttype)toforecastfutureplanting.CornerstonesEandFdepartfromthesefourbyeitheraugmentingplantingratesforCornerstoneA(E)orbydecreasingplantingratesforCornerstoneD(F).

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76The Southern Forest Futures Project

ofwhichdescribesforestprojectionsthatareconsistentwiththeflowofforestproductsandlanduses.Changesinwater,biodiversity,andotherecosystemservicescanalsobederivedfromtheforecastedchangesinforestconditionsandlanduses.Manyofthesearedescribedinsubsequentchapters.

Theforestdynamicsmoduleofthisframeworkprovidestheoutputsdiscussedintheresultssectionofthischapter.Withinthismodulethefutureofeveryplotintheforestinventoryisprojectedinamultiplestageprocess(seeWearandothers[2013]fordetailsonmodelingapproaches).Aharvestchoicemodelassignsamanagementintensitychoice(noharvest,partialharvest,orfinalharvest)basedontimberprices(fromaforestproductsmodule)andtheconditionoftheplot(Polyakovandothers2010).Theageofeachplotisdeterminedforthenextperiod,andifharvested,theplotisdeterminedtobenaturallyregeneratedorplanted.Forecastedclimateincludingtemperatureandprecipitationisassignedandforestconditionsontheplotareinferredbasedontheharvest/noharvestdecision,age,andclimateselection.

PlantingprobabilitiesarebasedonthefrequencyofplantingonharvestedplotsbasedontheforesttypeandStateforthe

mostrecentinventoryperiod.Giventhehighplantinglevelsobservedoverthisperiod,forecastedrateswereadjusteddownwardby50percentforCornerstoneFuturesA-D.Thehigh-plantingCornerstoneFuture(E)uses75percentofthehistoricalplantingrateswhilethelow-plantingCornerstoneFuture(F)uses25percent.

Toincorporateforestmarketdata,weadoptedasimplifiedprocessthatspecifiesapricetrajectoryforeachCornerstoneFutureandprovidesinputbothonindividualplot-harvestdecisionsandontheoverallsupplyoftimber.Consistentwiththeory,higherpricesyieldmoreharvestingandlargertimbersupplies;lowerpricesyieldsmallertimbersupplies.Harvestchoicemodelsarebasedonempiricalanalysisandareconsistentwithharvestingbehaviorobservedinthelate1990sandearly2000s.

Thelandusemodule(fig.5.2)describedinchapter3(seealsoWear2011)simulateschangesinallusesoflandandisdrivenbypopulationandincomegrowthalongwiththepricesoftimberproducts.Projectionsofforestareafromthelandusemodulefeedintotheforestdynamicsmoduleandtheprojectionoffuturemarketconditions.Changesforecastedatthecountylevelfornon-FederallandarebasedonNational

Figure5.2—SchematicoftheU.S.ForestAssessmentSystem.

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77chAPTeR 5. Forecasts of Forest Conditions

ResourcesInventorydata(chapter3)andareusedtorescalethearearepresentedbyeachplotinthecounty(alsoknownasplotexpansionfactors).

Theassignmentoffutureplotconditionsusesaresamplingofhistoricalplotrecordscalledwhole-plotimputation(Wearandothers2013),whichinvolvestheselectionofahistoricalplotwithcomparableconditionstorepresenteachplotlocationinthefuture.Theselectedhistoricalplotisascloseaspossibletotheoriginalplotlocationtoallowfororderlychangesinconditions,e.g.,ifplotconditionsareforecastedtobewarmer,theresamplingalgorithmwouldfirstlookwithinthesamesurveyunittofindahistoricalplotwithsimilartemperatureincreases.Findingnone,thealgorithmwouldextendthesearchtoadjacentunitsuntilanappropriatematchisfound.Thisprocessisrepeatedforeverytimestep(orintervalbetweenmeasurementsorprojections)togenerateplotforecastsovertime.Theinventoryforecastiscompletedbycouplingtheplotforecastwiththelanduseforecasts,whichareappliedtoadjustthearearepresentedbyeachnon-Federalplotwithineachcounty(throughtheplotexpansionfactordescribedabove).

Theforestdynamicsmodelisbasedonseveralprobabilities,includingprobabilisticharvestchoice,forestinvestment,andforesttransitionmodelsthatareimplementedwithrandomdrawsfromprobabilitydistributions,andawhole-plotimputationthatisbasedonarandomselectionofasubsetofhistoricalplotswithreplacement.Forecaststhereforemayvarybetweenrunsofthemodel.Theforecastsforthe50-yearsimulationinthischapterarebasedon26runs,oneofwhichwasselectedasrepresentativebasedoncentraltendencyacrossseveralvariables.Thefullsuiteof26runsoffersinformationabouttheuncertaintyoftheforecastsandisusedwheneverconfidenceintervalsareneeded.

ThetimestepofthesimulationdependsontheFIAinventoriesthatunderliemuchofthemodeling(Wearandothers2013).BecausestartingyearsandtimestepvaryfromStatetoState,theforecastperiodsarestaggeredacrosstheregion,e.g.,aStatemighthaveatimestepof6yearsstartingin2007,whileanotherStatemighthaveatimestepof6yearsstartingin2008.Forreportingacrosstheregion,weselected10-yearintervals,eachbeginningwithazero-endingyear,e.g.,1990,andthenattachedforecastsfromthenearestyeartothereferenceddecade—identicaltohowFIAassignsyearsforaggregateinventories(Smithandothers2007).

Thereportsandmapsinthischaptershowchangingforestconditionsfortheforecastperiod(2010to2060)inenoughdetailtodepictacompleteforestinventoryforeachStateintheSouth.Wefocusedonforecastingthevolumeofforestbiomass,theareaofforestsbytypeandageclass,thecarboncontainedinabove-andbelowgroundpools,andremovalsfromforestsdeterminedbyforestproductharvestsandland

usechanges.OurapproachwastosummarizetotalchangesfortheSouthandtheirdistributionacrosssubregions.

DATA SouRceS

ForeachState,FIAplotrecordswereavailabletopopulatetheforestdynamicsmodelandconducttheresampling.Werequiredatleasttwoinventorypanelsofmatchedplots,ideallywithbothderivedfromthecontinuousinventorydesignthatwasimplementedin1998toreplacecomplete-but-periodicinventoriesofthepastwithannualupdates.Becauseofchangesintheplotmeasurementapproach,wedeterminedthatitwasimportanttousetwopanelsofcomparabledesigntoconstructtransitionmodelsforkeyvariables.Sowhenfacedwiththedilemmaofonlyoneavailablecontinuousinventory,weoptedforpanelsfromtwoolder(periodic)inventoriesratherthanrelyontwodifferentdesigns.

FrompubliclyavailableplottableslocatedontheFIAWebsite,weextractedrawdataonplotcharacteristics,discretelandscapefeatures,andmeasurementsoftreeslargerthan1-inchd.b.h.Wewerealsograntedaccesstoconfidentialplotlocationdata,allowingustoconducttheplotmatchingneededtoevaluatetransitionsovertime.Expansionfactors,theareaassociatedwitheachplot,wereattachedtotheplotswiththeappropriatetables.Eachplot’scountylinksittothelandusemodel(seechapter3).

BecausetheFIAinventoryisextensive,weperformedsomemanipulationsontherawdatatoallowustosummarizevaluesforanalysis.Biomassvariables,suchasthevolumeandnumberofgrowing-stocktrees,werecalculatedonaperacrebasisusingalgorithmsderivedfromMilesandothers(2001)toaccountforchangesinsurveymethodologyovertheyears.Forexample,plotsintheannualinventorypanelsweredividedintocomponentstocapturecondition-leveldetailssuchasforesttype.AsavalidationstepwegeneratedtotalvaluesforStatesandsurveyunits,whichcouldthenbecomparedwithpublishedreportsandconfirmtheaccuracyofthealgorithms.

Changesinalgorithms,recording,andmeasurementtechniquescreateddataanomaliesinmanyinventories.WecomparedattributesacrossinventoriesineachStatetodeterminewheredataadjustmentswererequired.Thiswasespeciallycrucialwhenconductingtheanalysisoftransitions.

CarbonestimatesareattachedtoeachhistoricalplotusingmodelsdevelopedandappliedbyFIAusingtheU.S.ForestCarbonCalculationTool(Smithandothers2007).ThistoolincorporatesestimatesderivedfromfieldmeasuresintotheFORCARB2modeltoprovidecarboninventoriesthatareconsistentwithstandardsdevelopedbythe

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79chAPTeR 5. Forecasts of Forest Conditions

populationgrowthismoderatebutincomegrowthisstrong(resultinginhighurbanization),andtimberpricesarefalling(resultinginshiftsofforestlandtoagriculturaluses).Figure5.3alsoshowsthatpriceeffectsdominatetheprojectionofforestarea,withthehighestforestlossassociatedwithCornerstonesthathavedecreasingprices(B,D,andF);thethreeCornerstoneswiththelowestforestlosshaveincreasingprices(A,C,andE).

ForestlossesareespeciallyhighinafewareasoftheSouth(fig.5.4).ForallCornerstoneFuturesforestlossesareconcentratedinthePiedmontfromnorthernGeorgiathoughNorthCarolinaandpartsofVirginia,theAtlanticandGulfofMexicocoastalareas,andtheareasurroundingHouston.Theincome-fueledurbanizationinCornerstonesAandBspreadslowintensityforestlossesacrossabroaderareaoftheSouth(chapter3).ForallCornerstones,thenumberofacreslostislargestintheCoastalPlainandsmallestintheMississippiAlluvialValleyandtheMid-South.ThepercentofacreslostislargestinthePiedmontfollowedbytheAppalachian-CumberlandhighlandsandtheCoastalPlain.

Forestareachangealsovariesacrossthefiveforestmanagementtypes:plantedpine,naturalpine,oak-pine,uplandhardwood,andlowlandhardwood.Theuplandandlowlandhardwoodtypesareforecastedtocomprisebetween51and53percentofallforestsin2060,adeclinefromabout54percentin2010(fig.5.5).Thegreatestchangeshoweverarefoundamongthesoftwoodtypes(plantedpine,naturalpine,andoak-pine).Theseforestdynamicsareheavilyinfluencedbymanagementforforestproducts,whichinturnisdrivenbytimbermarketconditions,andbytherateofforestplanting.

Planted pine–OfthefiveforestmanagementtypesintheSouth,onlyplantedpineisforecastedtoincreaseinspiteofoveralldeclinesinforestedarea.TheSouthnowcontains39millionacresofplantedpine(about19percentoftotalforestarea),theculminationofanupwardtrendthatstartedinthe1950s.Ourprojectionsofplantedpinearedrivenbyurbanization,timberprices,andplantingrates(fig.5.6).CornerstoneE,characterizedbyarelativelyhighlevelofurbanizationaswellashightimberpricesandplantingrates,producesthelargestexpansioninplantedpine(thoughatrateslowerthanthoseexperiencedinthe1990s)andyieldsanincreaseof28.2millionacresby2060(about560,000acresperyear).UnderthisCornerstone,34percentofforestswouldbeplantedpinein2060.Conversely,CornerstoneF,characterizedbyarelativelylowlevelofurbanizationaswellaslowtimberpricesandplantingrates,yieldsthesmallestgaininplantedpineareawithanincreaseof7.8millionacresby2060(24percentofforestarea).TheremainingCornerstoneshaveprojectionsthatareintermediatetotheseresults.TheyclusteraroundtheforecastforCornerstoneDwithitslowertimberpricesandslowerurbanization:againof16.8million

acres(about0.3millionacresperyear)withplantedpinecomprising28percentoftheforestacreagein2060.

Natural pine—Forecastedlossesintheareaofnaturallyregeneratedpineforesttypesmirrorthegainsinplantedpineforestsandarethereforerelated,albeitinversely,totheconditionofforestproductsmarkets(fig.5.6).Thelargestdecreaseinnaturalpine—alossof58percentfrom31.5millionacresin2010to13.5millionacresin2060—isassociatedwithCornerstoneE,whichhasthehighestplantingrates.ThesmallestdeclineoccurswithCornerstoneF,withitslowertimberpricesandplantingrates,butlossesarestillsubstantial—7.6millionacresor25percentfrom2010to2060.RegardlessoftheCornerstoneevaluated,naturallyregeneratedpinetypesareforecastedtodecline,continuingatrendthathasdominatedforesttypedynamicssincethe1960s.

Oak-pine—Theareaoftheoak-pineforestmanagementtypealsodeclinesforallCornerstoneFutures,withasimilarpatternofchangebutsmalleracreageandpercentchangesthanisforecastedfornaturalpines(fig.5.6).Aswithnaturalpine,oak-pineismoreheavilyinfluencedbytimbermarketconditionsthanbyurbanizationrates.Oak-pinedeclinesrangefrom8.5millionacres(38percent)to3.9millionacres(17percent)bytheyear2060.

Upland hardwood—Atmorethan80millionacresin2010,uplandhardwoodsarethepredominantforesttypeintheSouth,morethandoubletheareaofthenextlargestforesttype.UplandhardwoodsareforecastedtodeclineforallCornerstoneFutures(fig.5.6),andvariationsinforecastsareassociatedmorewiththerateofurbanizationthanwithtimbermarketfutures.ThethreeCornerstoneswiththelowestuplandforestlossareassociatedwithlowerurbanization(CornerstonesC,D,andF),andthethreewiththehighestlossareassociatedwiththehigherurbanizationforecasts(CornerstonesA,B,andE).Lossofuplandhardwoodforestsrangesfrom5.9millionacres(about8percent)forCornerstoneCto11.2millionacres(14percent)forCornerstoneB.ForCornerstoneE,whichisalsocharacterizedbyhightimberpricesbutwithevenhigherratesofplanting,theprojectedtotalareaofplantedpineforestwouldbenearlyequaltouplandhardwoodforestsin2060,asthestimulatingeffectsofpriceandplantingonthepinetypecombineswiththedepressingeffectsofurbanizationonthehardwoodtype.

Lowland hardwood—Theareaoflowlandhardwoodforestsisalsomoresensitivetotherateofurbanizationandlesssensitivetoforestproductsmarketsthanthesoftwoodtypes.Forthisforestmanagementtype(fig.5.6),forecastsindicatelossesrangingfrom1.7millionacres(5percent)to4millionacres(12percent)by2060fromabaseof32millionacresin2010.Therelativerankingofchange

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acrossCornerstoneFuturesisidenticaltotheforecastsforuplandhardwoodtypes.Lowlandforestsloseproportionallylessareathantheotherforesttypesthatexperiencelosses.

TheforecastsofforesttypedynamicsvaryacrosstheFuturesProjectsubregions(figs.5.7,5.8,and5.9).Forestlosses,especiallyconcentratedinthePiedmontandAppalachian-Cumberlandregions(figs.5.7),andintensivemanagementintheCoastalPlaininfluenceforesttypesdifferently.TheCoastalPlain,with82percentofplantedpinein2010,experiencesthegreatestgrowthinplantedpinearea,from32millionacresto43millionacres.DeclinesinnaturallyregeneratedpinearegreatestintheCoastalPlainaswell.UplandhardwoodlossesaregreatestinthePiedmontandintheAppalachian-Cumberlandsubregionreflectingtheinfluenceofurbanizationonthesetypes.ChangesinlowlandhardwoodtypesaremoreevenlyspreadacrosstheSouth.

Forest Biomass Forecasts

Ofthevariousmetricsavailableformeasuringbiomasschangesforasiteinaforestinventory,weoptedtofocusonthevolumeofgrowingstockbecauseitisausefulindexbothfortimberanalysisandformeasuringotherecosystemservices.Totalgrowingstockvolumesareforecastedtochangeinresponsetobothlandusechangesandtimberharvestinglevels(fig.5.10).Fromabaseofabout292billioncubicfeetin2010,inventoriesincreaseatmostbyabout11percentin2060underthelow-urbanization/low-timber-priceCornerstoneD.Thesmallestincreaseintotalgrowingstockinventoriesisfoundwiththehigh-urbanization/high-timber-priceCornerstoneA,withanincreaseinvolumeto2030andthenadeclineovertheremainderoftheforecastperiod.UnderthisCornerstone,thevolumein2060isabout1percenthigherthanvaluesobservedin2010.

Patternsofchangedifferbetweenhardwoodandsoftwoodcomponentsoftheinventoryandgenerategenerallycountervailingchanges.UnderallCornerstones,softwoodgrowingstockinventoriesincrease(fig.5.11).Forthelow-urbanization/low-timber-priceCornerstoneD,softwoodinventoriesincreasefromabaseofabout121billioncubicfeetin2010toasmuchas148billioncubicfeet(37billioncubicfeetor22percent).Thesmallestincreaseis15percent(18billioncubicfeet)forthehigh-urbanization/high-timber-pricesCornerstoneA.

Hardwoodgrowingstockinventoriesrevealdifferentpatternsofchange.Startingfromabout171billioncubicfeetin2010,hardwoodgrowingstockvolumespeaksomewherebetween2020and2040forallCornerstonesandthendeclinetotheyear2060(fig.5.11).ThemostpronounceddeclinesareforCornerstonesAandE,bothofwhichhavehighratesofurbanizationandhightimberprices.DeclinesfortheseCornerstonesareintherangeof15billioncubicfeet

(9percent)from2010to2060.CornerstonesFandDresultinincreasesof3billioncubicfeet(2percent)forthesameperiod.

ThesechangesingrowingstockvolumedepartfromhistoricalpatternsofvolumeaccumulationintheSouth.Between1963and2010southernforestsaccumulatedabout2.5billioncubicfeetperyearorroughly70percent.Hardwoodforestsaccountedformostofthisbiomassaccumulation(61percent).Althoughgrowthisprojectedtocontinueoveratleastthenext10years,growingstockvolumereachesamaximumandthendeclinessomewhatoverthefollowing40years(fig.5.12),withhardwoodgrowingstocksdeclining,especiallyinresponsetourbanization(CornerstoneA),whilesoftwoodvolumesincreaseonlyslightly.

Figures5.13,5.14,and5.15showcounty-levelchangesingrowingstockvolumefrom2010to2060forthehigh-urbanization/high-timber-pricesCornerstoneA.Whilesoftwoodgrowingstockincreasesoverall,areaswithlargeincreasesinplantedpine(fig.5.8)showdeclinesinsoftwoodgrowingstockvolumesasoldernaturallyregeneratedpineforestsarereplacedbyyoungerplantedpineforests(fig.5.14).Declinesinhardwoodgrowingstockvolumesbetween2010and2060aremorewidespreadandgenerallyorganizedbyurbanizationpatterns(fig.5.15).EasternKentuckyandfarwesternVirginiashowthegreatestgainsinhardwoodgrowingstockvolumes.

Forest carbon Forecasts

Weestimatethecarbonstoredinsouthernforestsin2010atabout12.4billiontons,includingcarbonstoredineightpools:downtrees,standingdeadtrees,litter,soilorganiccarbon,livetreesabovegroundandbelowground,andunderstoryplantsabovegroundandbelowground.Abovegroundlivetreesandsoilorganicmaterialcomprise80percentofthetotalcarbonstock.Forecastsoffutureforestcarbonstocksreflectchangesintheamountofforestareaandthecompositionoftheforestinventory.However,themodeltracksonlythecarbonpoolinforestsanddoesnotaccountforcarbontransferstoagriculturalandotherlandusepools.Likewise,themodeldoesnotaccountforcarbonthatleavesforestsasproductsandmayremainsequesteredforlongperiodsoftimeinhousingorotherenduses(e.g.,Heathandothers2011).

Changesinforestcarbonpoolsreflectbothchangesingrowingstockvolumesandchangesinforestarea(figs.5.16and5.17).UndermostCornerstones,treecarbonpeaksin2020andthenlevelsoffordeclines;theexceptionisthelow-urbanization/high-timber-pricesCornerstoneCwhoseforecastpeaksin2030.Atmost,theforestcarbonpoolin2060is5percentsmallerthanthepoolin2010(anetemissionofabout600milliontons).Carbonaccumulatesasaresultofnetbiomassgrowthonforestedlands(fig.5.17.F),but

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Figure5.10—Totalgrowingstockvolume,2010to2060,byCornerstoneFuture.

thesegainsareoffsetbythelossofforestedlandthroughurbanizations(i.e.,thelossofsoilcarbonshowninfig.5.17.D).

TheclusteringofcarbonforecastsinFigure5.16revealstheinterplayofurbanizationandtimberprices.Theforecastswiththehighestamountofcarbonin2060areforthelow-urbanizationCornerstones(C,D,andF).Thelowestcarbonforecastedisforthehigh-urbanizationCornerstones(A,B,andE).However,withineachofthesetripletsthelowestamountofcarbonisassociatedwithlowtimberprices(CornerstonesB,D,andF)whilehighertimberpricesandresultingintensiveforestmanagementleadtohighercarbonsequesteredintheforestpool.Thissuggeststhaturbanizationpatternsdominatetheforecastsofcarbonstoragewhilestrongerforestproductmarketscanamelioratecarbonlosses.

Forest Removals Forecasts

RemovalsfromgrowingstockareforecastedtoincreaseforallCornerstoneFuturesreflectingbothlandusechangesandtimberharvesting(fig.5.18).From2010to2060,removalsareforecastedtoincreasebyasmuchas85percent(thehigh-urbanization/high-timber-price/more-plantingCornerstoneE)

andaslittleas35percent(thelow-urbanization/low-timber-price/low-plantingCornerstoneF).ThedominantfactorthataffectsthenumberofremovalsisthepriceprojectionfortimberthatisassociatedwitheachCornerstone.ThemostremovalsareassociatedwithhighpriceCornerstones(A,C,andE)whilethelowestremovalsareassociatedwithlowpriceCornerstones(B,D,andF).Evenwithdecliningprices,harvestsareprojectedtoincrease,reflectingpreviousforestinvestments,maturationofforestinventories,andremovalsassociatedwithforestlosses.

Theforecastsgeneratedistinctlydifferentremovalpatternsforhardwoodsandsoftwoods(fig.5.19).Softwoodremovalsareforecastedtoincreasesteadilyovertheprojectionperiodandatratescomparabletorecenthistory.Forhardwoods,forecastedremovalsincreasefrom2010to2020andthenleveloffformostCornerstones.Theincreaseinthefirstdecadereflectstherecoveryfromsuppressedremovalsleadinguptoandduringthe“greatrecession”(2005to2010).Trendsinlaterdecadesreflectadeclineinhardwoodgrowingstockinventories,mostespeciallyinthepulpwoodsizeclasses.

Amongproducts,softwoodpulpwoodremovalsarethemostvariableacrossCornerstones,withforecastsranging

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between2,800millioncubicfeetforthelow-plantingfutureofCornerstoneFand3,900millioncubicfeetforthehigh-plantingfutureofCornerstoneEby2060(seechapter9foradiscussionoftimbersupplyandtimbermarketforecastsrelatedtotheCornerstoneFutures).Historically,becausethepinesarethedominantplantationspecies,pinepulpwoodhasbeenthemostprice-responsivetimberproductintheSouth.5Overthelongrun,thehigh-pricefuturesofCornerstonesAandCproducemorepulpwoodthanthelow-pricefuturesofCornerstonesBandD,andthehigh-prices/more-plantingfutureofCornerstoneEproducesthemostsubstantialincreaseinsoftwoodpulpwoodoutput(about56percent).

SoftwoodsawtimberremovalsalsoshowstronggrowthpotentialacrosstheCornerstonesandarealsostronglyaffectedbypriceforecasts(fig5.19).Incontrasttopulpwoodhowever,sawtimberoutputlevelsoffovertimeandisnotstronglyinfluencedbyplantingrates.NaturallyregeneratedsitesarematuringintheSouth,resultingingrowth-inducedsupplyincreases.Thisexplainswhyitispossibleforsoftwoodsawtimberoutputtoremainstableorincreasewith

5Econometricstudiesshowthatsawtimberproductsarethemostprice-responsiveintheshortrun.However,inthelongrun,investmentsinnewpineplantationshaveledtosubstantialincreasesinpulpwoodproduction.

decreasingprices.Softwoodsawtimberoutputeventuallylevelsoffastheareaofnaturalpinedeclinesovertime.

WhilestillseparatedbylowandhighpriceCornerstones,hardwoodremovalforecastsvarymuchlessthansoftwoodremovals(figs.5.20).Afterincreasingfrom2010to2020,hardwoodremovalsareforecastedtodeclineforthelowpriceCornerstones(B,D,andF).ForthehighpriceCornerstones(A,C,andE),removalsincreaseuntil2030,whentheybegintoleveloff.Incontrasttothesoftwoods,directinvestmentinsouthernhardwoodforestshasbeennegligible,andnoneisprojectedforthefuture.Theresultisasteadydropinhardwoodforestareaandinhardwoodgrowingstockinventories.

Whenconsideredtogether,growingstockandremovalforecastsindicateacontinuationofsomeimportanthistoricaltrends.Removalsareforecastedtoincreasesubstantiallyinspiteofalevelingoffofinventories(fig.5.21).Thisreflectsanongoingtransitionfromaforestminingapproachtoanagriculturalmodelofforestproduction.Plantedpinemanagementallowsformoreproductionfromasmallerlandbasewithamorefrequentcaptureofforestgrowth.Thismeanslowerinventoriesonthegroundcomparedtonaturallyregeneratedforests.

Figure5.12—Historical(1962to1999)andforecasted(2020to2060)hardwoodandsoftwoodgrowingstockinventories,forCornerstonesAandD.

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Forest condition Forecasts

TheU.S.ForestAssessmentSystemisdesignedtoreplicateinventoriesacrossbroadareas—e.g.,aggregatesofatleastseveralcounties—andforbroadforesttypegroupings.However,theresampling/imputationapproachdoesprovidesomeinsightsintohowdriversofchangemayalterforestcompositionatafinerscale,e.g.,figure5.22showsforestforecastsofhardwoodtypesforthehigh-urbanization/low-timber-priceCornerstoneB,whichleadstheotherCornerstonesindeclinesofforestarea.ForthisCornerstone,allhardwoodtypesareforecastedtolose16millionacres(14percent)butnotalloftheforesttypesloseareaatthesamerate.Oak-hickorylosesabout1percentcomparedto10percentormoreforallotherforesttypes.Themostsubstantiallossesarefortheotherhardwoodandyellow-poplartypes,whichlose26percent(6millionand4millionacres,respectively).Diggingabitdeeper,lossesoftheyellow-poplarforesttypeareexpectedtobeabout25percentintheCoastalPlain(1.4millionacres)andtheAppalachian-Cumberlandsubregion(1millionacres),comparedtoamoresubstantiallossof34percentinthePiedmont(1.6millionacres).

Theforecastedareaofsoftwoodtypesisshowninfigure5.23.Loblolly-shortleafpineisthedominanttypeanditsareastaysroughlylevelthroughtheforecastperiod.Althoughoverallforestareaisexpectedtodeclineandsoftwoodremovalsareforecasttoincrease,continuedinvestmentinplantationsenablesthistypetomaintainitsarea.Longleaf-slashpineisforecastedtoincreaseslightlywhileoak-pineisexpectedtodecline.Allothertypesexhibitverylittlechange.

Anotherelementofforestconditionsthatmaybeespeciallyimportantforwildlifeistheageclassdistributionofforesttypes(chapter6).Figure5.24showsforecastsofageclassesforbroadforesttypesforthehigh-urbanization/high-timber-prices/more-plantingCornerstoneE.Early-ageforestsarethosethatarelessthan20yearsold,mid-ageforestsarebetween20and70yearsold,andold-ageforestsaregreaterthan70yearsold.BecauseCornerstoneEhasthelargestchangeinforestmanagementtypes(fig.5.5)andthemostharvesting(fig.5.18),itisa“best”casefortheproductionofearly-ageforests.

Figure5.16—Totalforestcarbonstock,2010to2060,byCornerstoneFuture.

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Figure5.18—Forecastsoftotalremovalsfromgrowingstock,2010to2060,byCornerstoneFuture.

Figure5.19—Forecastedremovalsfromsoftwoodgrowingstock,2010to2060,byCornerstoneFuture.

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Withtheexceptionofplantedpine,allforesttypesareforecastedtoexperienceadeclineinearly-ageforeststhroughouttheforecastperiodforCornerstoneE.Plantedpineforestsareforecastedtoshifttheirage-classdistributionstowardmoremid-ageforestsastherateofplantingdeclinesfromitspeakinthelate1990s.Mid-ageforestareaincreasesstrongly,whileearly-ageforestareaincreasesatamoremoderaterate.Therearepracticallynoacresofold-ageforestintheplantedpineforesttype.

HighharvestratesandconversiontoplantedpineinCornerstoneEshiftstheage-classdistributionofthenaturallyregeneratedpinetypes.Theareaofold-agenaturalpinestaysrelativelyconstantwhilemid-ageforestsdeclineby13millionacres(about64percent)andearly-ageforestsdeclinebyabout4.5millionacres(58percent).Oak-pineshowsasimilarpatternofageclasschanges.

Incontrasttothesoftwoods,hardwoodforecastsshowanincreaseinold-ageforests.Foruplandhardwoods,theareaofmid-ageforestsisforecastedtodeclineby14millionacres(downfrom59percentin2010to47percentin2060).Overthissameperiod,old-ageforestsareforecastedtoincreaseby12millionacres(upfrom20to40percent)andearly-ageforestsdecreaseby8millionacres(downfrom21to13percent).Overall,theshiftamongageclassesrevealsthattheearly-agecomponentoftheuplandhardwoodtypedeclinesby44percentatthesametimethattheold-agecomponentincreasesby71percent.

Thepatternofchangeforlowlandhardwoodforesttypesissimilartochangesinuplandhardwoodforesttypes,butchangesoccuratdifferentrates.Themid-agecomponentoflowlandhardwoodforestsdeclinesbyabout5millionacres(26percent),theold-agecomponentincreasesbyabout4millionacres(77percent),andtheearly-agecomponentdeclinesbyabout2millionacres(33percent).Aswiththeuplandforesttypes,whilethetotalareaoftheforesttypedeclines,theaverageageoftheforesttypeincreases.

ContrarytoCornerstoneE,CornerstoneF(fig.5.25)ischaracterizedbylessplantingandalowerharvestrate(fig.5.18).TheresultsforCornerstonesEandFthereforebrackettheage-classresultsforallCornerstones.ForCornerstoneF,theareaofearly-ageplantedpinedeclinesovertime(incontrasttoincreasessimulatedunderCornerstoneE),andtheageclassdistributionapproachesastasis.

CornerstoneFalsoresultsinlessdramaticchangesinareaofnaturalpinewhencomparedtoCornerstoneE,withmorestabilityintheearly-ageclass,increasesintheold-ageclass,anda33-percentreductionindeclinesofthemid-agedclass.Thispatternismirroredintheoak-pineageclasses.Forhardwoodforesttypes,however,thereislittledifferencebetweenCornerstonesEandF.Thisindicatesthat

managementchangesstronglyinfluencetheagestructuresofthesoftwoodforesttypesbuthavelittleinfluenceontheagestructuresofhardwoodforesttypes.

DiScuSSioN AND coNcluSioNS

Anumberofforcesofchangewillaffectthedevelopmentofforestsoverthenext50years.TheU.S.ForestAssessmentSystem,whichaccountsforlandusechanges,climatechange,andforestmanagement,isusedheretoforecastforestconditionsforsixCornerstoneFutures.EachCornerstonedescribesthefutureintermsofhumanpopulation,personalincome,climate,andthemarketsforproductsfromrurallanduses.AcrossalloftheseCornerstones,totalforestareadeclinesandchangesamongbroadforestmanagementtypesaresubstantial.Amongthefiveforestmanagementtypes,onlyplantedpineisexpectedtoincreaseinareafrom2010to2060.In2010,plantedpinecomprised19percentofsouthernforests.By2060plantedpineisforecastedtocomprisesomewherebetween24and36percentofforestarea.Themidpointofthisrangeofgrowth(20-72percent)isconsistentwitharecentstudybyZhangandPolyakov(2010)thatforecastsa40percentexpansioninplantedpineintheSouth.

Foresttypesareinfluenceddifferentiallybyurbanizationandtimbermarketdynamics.Ingeneral,hardwoodsaremorestronglyinfluencedbyurbanization,andsoftwoodsaremorestronglyinfluencedbyforestmanagement.Althoughpredictedratesofchangevary,allforecastsrevealthatlandusechangesandconversiontopineplantationswillresultinacontinuingdownwardtrendinnaturallyregeneratedpinetypes.HardwoodtypesaremoststronglyinfluencedbyurbanizationandallCornerstoneFuturesshowdeclinesinhardwoodareathatvaryindirectproportiontoratesofurbanization.

NearlyallforestsintheSouthhavebeenharvestedatleastonceandmuchoftheregion’sforestsaretheresultofreforestationandanaccumulationofbiomass.Afteralongperiodofaccumulatingbiomass,theSouth’sforestsareforecastedtoreachamaximumby2030andthentoeitherleveloffordecline.

Southernforestsalsodefinealargepoolofterrestrialcarbonamountingto12.3billiontons.Mirroringchangesingrowingstockvolumessomewhat,thispoolofcarbonisforecastedtoreachapeakfrom2020to2030,andthendeclineovertime.Urbanizationpatternsarethedominantdeterminatesofthesizeofthefutureforestcarbonpool,althoughstrongerforestproductmarketscanamelioratecarbonlosses.

Forestforecastsaddresschangeinclimatevariablesbyassociatingforecasted,multipleyearaveragesoftemperatures,precipitation,andpotentialevapotranspiration

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withhistoricalconditions.Thepotentialeffectsofotherchanges,mostnotablyCO2enrichmentdonotentertheanalysis.ControlledexperimentsshowincreasedproductivitywithCO2fertilizationbutalsohighlighttheimportantinteractionwithnitrogen,precipitation,andotherclimateandsitevariablesindeterminingresponse(McCarthyandothers2011).Thesetypesofimpactsonproductivityarerelativelysubtlecomparedtothevariabilityoffieldinventorymeasurementsandcouldnotbefactoredintotheforecasts.Thepotentialeffectsofatmosphericcarbononforestbiomassataregionalscaleremainsanimportantuncertainty.

TheSouthproducesthemajorityoftimberproductsintheUnitedStates(morethan60percent)includingadiversityofbothhardwoodandsoftwoodoutputs.ForestmanagementhasincreasedharvestingthroughouttheSouthsincethe1960s,andtheoutputperunitofgrowingstockhasincreasedasmanagementhasintensified.Themostimportantfactorinchangingtheproductivityofsouthernforestsistheexpansionintheamountofplantedpineforests.Becauseofincreasesintimbersupplyfrom1990to2010,removalsofforestbiomass(growingstock)areforecastedtoincreaseforallCornerstones,eventhosethatprojectdecreasingprices.Removalsofsoftwoodpulpwoodareresponsivetofuturesforforestplantingandproductprices.Underahighpricefuture,softwoodpulpwoodoutputwouldincreaseby56percent,roughlyequaltotheexpansioninoutputobservedbetween1950and2000.TheseprojectionsofremovalsarebasedonthepriceassumptionsoftheCornerstoneFuturesandnotonforecastsofdemand.TimberharvestforecastsundervariousmarketconditionslinkedtotheCornerstonesarediscussedinchapters9and10.

Thecombinationoflandusechange,managementintensities,andclimateresultinanumberofchangesinthecompositionandstructureoftheregion’sforests.Theforesttypecompositionofthebroadforestmanagementgroupsareforecastedtochangeandtheagestructureoftheseforestsarealsoaltered.Althoughtheoveralllossofuplandhardwoodacreageisforecastedtobeintherangeof8to14percent,theoak-hickoryforesttyperemainsessentiallyconstant.Theyellow-poplarforesttypeisforecastedtodeclinethemost,withthehighestlossesforecastedforthePiedmont.Theageandspeciesstructureofsoftwoodforesttypesismoststronglyinfluencedbyforestharvestingandmanagementtiedtotimbermarkets,whilethefuturestructureofhardwoodforestsismoststronglyaffectedbyurbanization-drivenlandusechanges(increasedpopulationgrowthandincome).Reductionsofnaturallyregeneratedpineforestsarenotequallydistributedamongageclasses:mid-ageandearly-ageforestsdeclinebutold-ageforestsremainrelativelyconstant.Forhardwoods,theagedistributionofbothuplandandlowlandhardwoodtypesshift,withlessoftheseforesttypesclassifiedasearlyageandmoreclassifiedasolderage.

liTeRATuRe ciTeD

Coulson,D.P.;JoyceL.A.;Price,D.T.[andothers].2010.Climatescenarios fortheconterminousUnitedStatesatthecountyspatialscaleusingSRESscenariosA1BandA2andPRISMclimatology.FortCollins,CO:U.S.DepartmentofAgricultureForestService,RockyMountainResearchStation.http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/data_archive/dataaccess/US_ClimateScenarios_county_A1B_A2_PRISM.shtml.[Dateaccessed:January10,2011].

Heath,L.S.;Smith,J.E.;Skog,K.E.[andothers].2011.ManagedforestcarbonestimatesfortheU.S.greenhousegasinventory,1990-2008.JournalofForestry.109(3):167-173.

IntergovernmentalPanelonClimateChange(IPCC).2007a.Climatechange2007:synthesisreport.Geneva,Switzerland.http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/ar4/syr/en/contents.html.[Dateaccessed:January24,2012].

IntergovernmentalPanelonClimateChange(IPCC).2007b.Generalguidelinesontheuseofscenariodataforclimateimpactandadaptationassessment.http://www.ipcc-data.org/guidelines/TGICA_guidance_sdciaa_v2_final.pdf.[Dateaccessed:January24,2012].

Linacre,E.T.1977.Asimpleformulaforestimatingevaporationratesinvariousclimates,usingtemperaturedataalone.AgriculturalMeteorology:409-424.Vol.18.

McCarthy,H.R.;Oren,R.;Johnsen,K.H.[andothers].2011.Re-assessmentofplantcarbondynamicsattheDukefree-airCO2enrichmentsite:interactionsofatmospheric[CO2]withnitrogenandwateravailabilityoverstanddevelopment.NewPhytologist.185(2):343-589.

Miles,P.D.;Brand,G.J.;Alerich,C.L.[andothers].2001.TheForestInventoryandAnalysisdatabase:databasedescriptionandusersmanual.Version1.0.Gen.Tech.Rep.NC–218.St.Paul,MN:U.S.DepartmentofAgricultureForestService,NorthCentralResearchStation.130p.

Penman,J.;Gytarsky,M.;Hiraishi,T.[andothers],eds.2003.Goodpracticeguidanceforlanduse,landusechange,andforestry.Hayama,Kanagawa,Japan:InstituteforGlobalEnvironmentalStrategiesfortheIntergovernmentalPanelonClimateChange.502p.http://www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp/public/gpglulucf/gpglulucf.htm.[Dateaccessed:April13,2010].

Poylakov,M.;Wear,D.N.;Huggett,R.2010.Harvestchoiceandtimbersupplymodelsforforestforecasting.ForestScience.56(4):344-355.

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