Thompson Lab's Scenario-based Research Informs New EEA Report

Over the past two years, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) has consulted with researchers in Harvard Forest's Thompson Lab to model forest growth, assess the impacts of anticipated ecological disturbances, and analyze potential land management strategies on forest carbon sequestration and emissions. Released last month, The Forest Carbon Study: The Impact of Alternative Land-Use Scenarios on Terrestrial Carbon Storage and Sequestration in Massachusetts investigates how Massachusetts forests can help achieve statewide net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and builds upon the Lab's contributions to EEA's 2050 Decarbonization Roadmap's Land Sector Report.

Released this February, the Forest Carbon Study shows that the best ways to protect carbon storage in forests and help remove carbon from the air over time are to reduce forest loss, help forests recover after major damage, and reduce carbon emissions from logging. The study also finds that managing forests carefully can make them stronger and more adaptable to climate change. While minor in their contributions, planting trees on open land does slightly increase overall carbon absorption.

Read the Executive Summary here or visit EEA's Forest Carbon Study page for more information.