Effect of the cutting age and thinning intensity on biomass and carbon sequestration – the Gubin Forest District case study

The goal of presented study was to determine possible impact of the cutting age and thinning intensity on biomass and carbon sequestration. Analyses were based on the inventory data from the Gubin Forest District processed for a10-year period using the Polish empirical stand growth models. The variants with less intensive thinning treatments and higher cutting age favour biomass accumulation in the short-time horizon. At the same time, an increase in the cutting age leads to adrastic limitation of the possibility of timber utilisation, which may negatively affect financial condition of the district as well as significantly influence long-term forest sustainability. Adecade-long analysis proved no influence of the cutting age and thinning intensity on current volume increment i.e. current ability of stands to absorb carbon dioxide. Longer prediction is required in order to recognise directions of changes in the increment.

Przemysław Szmit