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Next-Generation Wood Products Carbon Estimator: A Tool for Comprehensive Stakeholder Collaboration and Decision-Making

Principle Investigator: Xinyuan Wei, University of Maine

    • Forest Carbon, General Fund, Wood Products
    • 2025, Maine

Abstract: The Northern Forest region serves as a critical carbon sink, storing carbon in trees, soils, and harvested wood products. However, stakeholders face challenges in effectively assessing and maximizing the carbon storage in wood products due to the lack of integrated, user-centric tools. This project aims to address this gap by developing an advanced wood products carbon flow and storage estimator. Building on the existing Wood Products Carbon Storage (WPsCS) estimator, the new version will incorporate comprehensive timber carbon flux processes, account for advancements in timber processing, and introduce a substitution model to evaluate the carbon benefits of replacing traditional materials with timber. Additionally, the project will develop a detailed parameter database and user-friendly visualization features to enhance usability. Key outputs include the next-generation estimator, a region-specific parameter database, technical documentation, and a stakeholder training workshop. By delivering detailed and actionable wood products carbon data, the tool will enable forest managers, policymakers, and professionals in the wood industry to make informed decisions that balance forest ecological sustainability with economic goals. Furthermore, it will support stakeholders in actively engaging in the expanding carbon credit market. In the short term, this project will enhance sustainable forest management practices and advance wood carbon accounting in the Northern Forest region. Over the long term, it will promote stakeholder collaboration, strengthen the regional carbon market, and contribute to broader efforts to reduce atmospheric CO2 concentration. This initiative aligns with the Northern States Research Cooperative (NSRC) mission to deliver science-based solutions that benefit forest-dependent communities.