WoodWise is a master's project at the University of California - Santa Barbara Bren School of Environmental Science & Management.
In conjunction with the Joint Institute for Wood Products Innovation (through the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection), the team aims to assess how California’s forests may support statewide carbon neutrality.
In conjunction with the Joint Institute for Wood Products Innovation (through the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection), the team aims to assess how California’s forests may support statewide carbon neutrality.
The Problem
California’s forests are not just a source of natural beauty in the Golden State. For centuries, California’s forests acted as an important carbon sink– generally, more carbon was stored in growing trees than was released by decaying trees and emissions from fire events. However, increasing drought severity and intensity of wildfires threatens the effectiveness of the State’s forests as a carbon sink– suggesting action is needed to support long-term forest carbon storage.
California’s forests are not just a source of natural beauty in the Golden State. For centuries, California’s forests acted as an important carbon sink– generally, more carbon was stored in growing trees than was released by decaying trees and emissions from fire events. However, increasing drought severity and intensity of wildfires threatens the effectiveness of the State’s forests as a carbon sink– suggesting action is needed to support long-term forest carbon storage.
The Solution
In 2018, California declared a goal of statewide carbon neutrality by 2045. To reach this goal, the State will need to both reduce emissions and remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere across a variety of industries. Forest management is one option the State can implement to increase long-term carbon storage and support carbon neutrality.
To ensure that California’s forests continue to help offset the state’s carbon emissions, State policymakers and land managers will need to prioritize carbon storage in forest management and in climate policy. In collaboration with the Joint Institute for Wood Product Innovation, WoodWise aims to assess how forest management can contribute to Executive Order B-55-18, California’s pledge to be carbon-neutral by 2045.
Our project focuses on determining the costs and carbon consequences of a host of forest management treatments across all forests in California, and how these treatments can contribute to the State’s climate goals.
In 2018, California declared a goal of statewide carbon neutrality by 2045. To reach this goal, the State will need to both reduce emissions and remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere across a variety of industries. Forest management is one option the State can implement to increase long-term carbon storage and support carbon neutrality.
To ensure that California’s forests continue to help offset the state’s carbon emissions, State policymakers and land managers will need to prioritize carbon storage in forest management and in climate policy. In collaboration with the Joint Institute for Wood Product Innovation, WoodWise aims to assess how forest management can contribute to Executive Order B-55-18, California’s pledge to be carbon-neutral by 2045.
Our project focuses on determining the costs and carbon consequences of a host of forest management treatments across all forests in California, and how these treatments can contribute to the State’s climate goals.