New Study Highlights the Role of Land Ownership and Carbon Storage

Forests play a crucial role in combating climate change by storing carbon dioxide, but their effectiveness depends heavily on the ownership status of the land. Researcher Nicholas Tait's recent study has unveiled detailed insights into how forest carbon stocks are distributed across different ownership types, which could be useful for policymakers and stakeholders aiming to mitigate climate change. Mr. Tait is a graduate of the Masters of Geographic Information Systems in the Department of Geography at Penn State. The advisor for his capstone project is Associate Professor Melissa Kreye in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management at Penn State.

Using high-resolution datasets and geographic analysis tools, Tait explored how ownership and conservation status influence carbon storage at the state and county levels, focusing on two key carbon pools: aboveground living biomass (e.g., trees and shrubs) and belowground living biomass (e.g., roots).

Tait’s investigation centered on three critical questions:

1. How do forest carbon levels in public forests compare to private ones?
2. Which ownership type holds the most aboveground and belowground forest carbon?
3. How much forest carbon exists within different types of protected areas, such as fee lands and easements?

The study reveals that the United States' forests, which absorb hundreds of million metric tons of carbon annually, are not evenly distributed in terms of ownership types. Federal Lands have the highest concentrations of carbon stocks, particularly in the Pacific Northwest, where dense forests thrive. Family-owned forests dominate the Southeast and contribute significantly to the nation’s carbon storage. The Pacific Northwest and along the Appalachian Mountains, in particular, have the highest average carbon stocks per acre, while larger counties in the Southwest store more total carbon due to their size despite lower carbon densities.

The study also revealed that counties with higher percentages of protected forest carbon often within areas of federal ownership, highlighting the role of government policy in carbon preservation. Forests in the western U.S. benefit from higher levels of protection, with significant areas falling under federal management. However, the increasing number of wildfires has become an important threat to these stocks. In contrast, eastern forests are largely in private ownership and offer the possibility of using public-private initiatives to enhance carbon stocks through market-based solutions. In a Pennsylvania Case Study, only 26% of Pennsylvania's forest carbon is within public lands, emphasizing the importance of offering targeted conservation support to landowners.

Tait's findings have implications for stakeholders across multiple sectors. Policymakers can use this data to prioritize funding for forest preservation, particularly in regions with high carbon stocks and low protection. Forest owners might have more opportunities for enrolling their lands in carbon market programs, especially in areas where average carbon density per acre is high. Climate investors and conservation organizations can identify key areas for investment to enhance carbon sequestration and climate resilience.

"Understanding where carbon-rich forests are located and how they're managed is critical for developing strategies to combat climate change," Tait explains.

Private forest lands in the United States, which account for about 69% of all forested land, are distributed across various ownership categories, including family, corporate, and investment-based entities such as Timber Investment Management Organizations (TIMOs) and Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs). Protected areas, as defined by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), are lands managed to preserve biodiversity and provide natural, recreational, and cultural benefits. These areas include fee-owned lands (outright ownership by public agencies, nonprofits, or private entities), easements (legal agreements restricting land use to protect conservation values), designations (policy-determined protections), proclamations (tribal, military, or congressionally appointed lands), and marine areas (protected water zones).

While U.S. forests offset up to 16% of national carbon emissions, under-managed lands and forests in poor health may not achieve their full carbon sequestration potential. Future research could expand on Tait's work by examining trends in forest carbon over time or assessing the impact of specific management practices. Access the full report and associated data sets, or if you have any questions or are interested in collaborating with FOCCE, contact Melissa Kreye at mxk1244@psu.edu.