HR: 14:40h
AN: B13D-05    [Abstracts]
TI: Assessing the environmental costs and benefits of plantations under future carbon pricing scenarios
AU: * Jackson, R B
EM: jackson@duke.edu
AF: Duke University, Department of Biology and Nicholas School of the Environment, Durham, NC 27708 United States
AU: Barrett, D J
EM: damian.barrett@csiro.au
AF: CSIRO Plant Industry, GPO Box 1600, Canberra, ACT 2601 Australia
AU: Farley, K
EM: farley@duke.edu
AF: Duke University, Department of Biology and Nicholas School of the Environment, Durham, NC 27708 United States
AU: Guenther, A
EM: guenther@ucar.edu
AF: National Center for Atmospheric Research, 1850 Table Mesa Drive, Boulder, CO 80307 United States
AU: Jobb gy, E G
EM: egj@duke.edu
AF: Duke University, Department of Biology and Nicholas School of the Environment, Durham, NC 27708 United States
AU: Murray, B C
EM: bcm@rti.org
AF: Research Triangle Institute, 3040 Cornwallis Rd., RTP, NC 27709 United States
AU: McCarl, B A
EM: mccarl@tamu.edu
AF: Texas A&M University, Department of Agricultural Economics, College Station, TX 77843 United States
AU: Schlesinger, W H
EM: schlesin@duke.edu
AF: Duke University, Department of Biology and Nicholas School of the Environment, Durham, NC 27708 United States
AB: Carbon sequestration programs are gaining attention globally as a means to offset increasing fossil fuel emissions and atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations. We are examining scenarios of C sequestration in four regions of the world: the U.S., South America, China, and Australia. The analysis uses economic models to predict where the plantations will be grown and then categorizes the other biogeochemical changes that will likely occur. The goals of the project include: 1) Evaluating the assumptions behind C sequestration programs for plantations, including the importance of rotation rates, a full accounting of carbon costs (e.g., planting and site preparation), and how the C would be stored and safeguarded. 2) Examining the scale of the process needed to make a substantial contribution to offset fossil fuel emissions (see below). The scenario we have chosen to evaluate is one that addresses the consequences of storing 1 PgC yr$^{-1}$ for 50 years. 3) Determining and summarizing the evidence for other biogeochemical changes that will likely occur. Some of the factors to be evaluated include soil acidification, changes in water fluxes and water-table dynamics, nutrient losses, changes in soil fauna and biodiversity, volatile organic carbon emissions, and erosion. 4) A final goal of the project is to make concrete recommendations for where plantations may be the most beneficial in terms of C storage and other environmental benefits, such as the amelioration of salinity and groundwater upwelling in Australia.
DE: 0400 Biogeosciences
SC: Biogeosciences [B]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting