Research in Action: Thompson Lab & Massachusetts' Carbon Accounting

The Thompson Lab at Harvard Forest is working with the state to implement their new Forest as Climate Solutions initiative. As part of this work, Harvard Forest’s Director of Research Jonathan Thompson serves on a committee with the state Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) to shape the development of new forest management practices that will maximize carbon storage and climate resiliency. Importantly, the committee’s results will lead to more informed management guidance for state lands that have been under a timber harvesting moratorium.

Relatedly, Thompson’s Lab is leading a major study of the state’s forest carbon resources that follows up on their efforts developing the state’s Land Sector Report, a technical report of the Massachusetts 2050 Decarbonization Roadmap Study. With a release anticipated in December 2023, the present study will outline alternative scenarios of climate change, land use, and alternative energy development. Providing pathways to achieving aggressive emissions reductions, this research has already been used to support the state’s Clean Energy and Climate Plans for 2025 and 2030.

The image below shows a diagram of post-harvest carbon allocation and can be found in the Land Sector Report.