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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Maricopa, Arizona » U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center » Plant Physiology and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #203392
Title: Rising Carbon Dioxide Levels and Forest Management

Author
item LENART, MELANIE - THE UNIV OF ARIZONA
item JONES, CHRISTOPHER - THE UNIV OF ARIZONA
item Kimball, Bruce

Submitted to: University of Arizona Press
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/1/2007
Publication Date: 5/31/2007
Citation: Lenart, M., Jones, C., Kimball, B.A. 2007. Rising Carbon Dioxide Levels and Forest Management. Arizona Cooperative Extension, University of Arizona Press AZ1395 1-4.

Interpretive Summary: Several environmental factors are changing, including the global rise in atmospheric CO2 concentrations and global warming. These environmental changes protend needed changes in the future management of forests in the Southwestern U.S. Therefore, University of Arizona Extension Agents organized a Workshop in Sedona, AZ, in February, 2005, targeted at Southwest forest managers. This paper presents facts from one of the presentation at that workshop and summarizes what the direct effects of the increased CO2 concentations are likely to be on future tree growth. It is expected that the growth of most trees will be stimulated by the higher CO2 concentrations but variations in reponse among species will alter competition among species. The fact sheet also speculates about what the implications may be for future forest management. This research benefits the forest industry, as well as the many consumers of forest products.

Technical Abstract: Recent observations and scientific research indicate that climate change, with its greater extremes in meteorological trends and overall temperature increases, is likely to affect land resources. Natural resource managers need to continually update their knowledge concerning potential impacts of climate to assist decision making and planning. This fact sheet provides a summary of scientific research and climate-related implications for natural resource managers and other concerned stakeholders to consider. The information presented was stimulated from the Workshop on Climate Change and Ecosystems Impacts in Southwest Forests and Woodlands, held February 8-9, 2005, in Sedona, Arizona.