Spatially explicit assessment of carbon stocks of a managed forest area in eastern Germany

The Kyoto-protocol permits the accounting of changes in forest carbon stocks due to forestry. Therefore, forest owners are interested in a reproducible quantification of carbon stocks at the level of forest management units and the impact of management to these stocks or their changes. We calculated the carbon stocks in tree biomass and the organic layer including their uncertainties for several forest management units (Tharandt forest, Eastern Germany, 5,500 ha) spatially explicit at the scale of individual stands by using standard forest data sources. Additionally, soil carbon stocks along a catena were quantified. Finally, carbon stocks of spruce and beech dominated stands were compared and effects of thinning intensity and site conditions were assessed. We combined forest inventory and data of site conditions by using the spatial unions of the shapes (i.e., polygons) in the stand map and the site map. Area weighted means of carbon (C) stocks reached 10.0 kg/m2 in tree biomass, 3.0 kg/m2 in the organic layer and 7.3 kg/m2 in mineral soil. Spatially explicit error propagation yielded a precision of the relative error of carbon stocks at the total studied area of 1% for tree biomass, 45% for the organic layer, and 20% for mineral soil. Mature beech dominated stands at the Tharandt forest had higher tree biomass carbon stocks (13.4 kg/m2) and lower organic layer carbon stocks (1.8 kg/m2) compared to stands dominated by spruce (11.6, 3.0 kg/m2). The difference of tree biomass stocks was mainly due to differences in thinning intensity. The additional effect of site conditions on tree carbon stocks was very small. We conclude that the spatially explicit combination of stand scale inventory data with data on site conditions is suited to quantify carbon stocks in tree biomass and organic layer at operational scale.     

Satellite-based estimation of biomass carbon stocks for northeast China''s forests between 1982 and 1999

Northeast China maintains large areas of primary forest resource and has been experiencing the largest increase in temperature over the past several decades in the country. Therefore, studying its forest biomass carbon (C) stock and the change is important to the sustainable use of forest resources and understanding of the forest C budget in China. In this study, we use forest inventory datasets for three inventory periods of 1984–1988, 1989–1993 and 1994–1998 and NOAA/AVHRR Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data from 1982 to 1999, to estimate forest biomass C stock and its changes in this region over the last two decades. The averaged forest biomass C stock and C density were estimated as 2.10 Pg C (1 Pg = 10¹⁵ g) and 44.65 Mg C ha⁻¹ over the study period. The forest biomass C stock has increased by 7% with an annual rate of 0.0082 Pg C. The largest increase in the C density occurred in two humid mountain areas, Changbai Mountains and northern Xiaoxing’anling Mountains. Climate warming is probably the key driving force for this increase, while anthropogenic activities such as afforestation and deforestation may contribute to variations in the C stocks.     

Substantial amounts of carbon are sequestered during dry periods in an old-growth subtropical forest in South China

A number of continuous eddy covariance measurements and long-term biomass inventories had proved that old-growth forests are carbon sinks worldwide. The present study estimated the net ecosystem productivity (NEP) for an old-growth subtropical forest at the Dinghushan Biosphere Reserve in South China to investigate the temporal pattern of carbon sequestration, both seasonally and annually. The measured NEP over 7 years (from 2003 to 2009) showed that this forest was a net carbon sink, ranging from 230 (in 2008) to 489 g C m^?2 year^?1 (in 2004). The greatest value of NEP was found in the driest year and the lowest value in the wettest year during the study period. Within a year, NEP during the dry season was about 81.4 % higher than for the wet season. Accordingly, the dry season at seasonal scale and dry years at interannual scale are key periods for carbon sequestration in this forest. The strong seasonality of ecosystem or soil respiration (ER or SR) compared with gross primary productivity (GPP) resulted in substantial amounts of carbon being sequestered during dry seasons. A decrease of GPP and an increase of ER or SR demonstrated the lower carbon uptake in rainy years. From this study, we conclude that GPP and living biomass carbon increment are not overriding parameters controlling NEP. The variations in ER or SR driven by the rainfall scheme were the dominant factor determining the magnitude of NEP in this forest in South China.     

Selective harvesting at rational intervals promotes carbon sequestration in temperate coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forests in China

Evidence-based selective cutting at prescribed intervals as part of good forest management can enhance the carbon sequestration capacity of the forest. The effect of forest management on carbon sequestration has, however,not been quantified. Thus, carbon content of various organs was measured for 323 tree species, 247 shrub species, and233 herb species in seven temperate coniferous and broadleaved mixed forests that were subjected to selective cutting with restoration durations of 100, 55, 45, 36, 25, 14, and6 years to explore dynamic changes in carbon storage. The results showed that biomass carbon allocation in different organs followed a pattern: trunk root branch leaf for all forests. With longer restoration durations, more carbon accumulated in different organs and in soils. Interestingly,when the restoration duration exceeded 50 years, carbon storage in ecosystem was larger than that in primary forests with 100-year cutting intervals, suggesting that a reasonable selective cutting interval can increase forest carbon sequestration. Mean diameter at breast height(DBH) and forest carbon storage were significantly positively correlated, and carbon storage of selectively cut forests exceeded that of primary forests when the stand mean DBH exceeded 15.66 cm. Therefore, mean DBH of forests can be an indicator for combining sustainable forest management and forest carbon sequestration. Additionally, the classic coefficients of 0.45 and 0.50 used to estimate carbon sequestration underestimated values by 2.65% and overestimated by 8.16%, respectively, in comparison with the measured carbon content from different plant organs.     

广东省林业碳汇解析及提升潜力分析

森林经营在增强二氧化碳吸收方面具有重要作用,在全球气候变化背景下,本文阐述了《联 合国气候变化框架公约》中我国的履约目标,并评估了 2005 年和 2010 年广东省土地利用变化和林业领 域的固碳量。结果显示广东省 2005 年森林生物量生长碳吸收合计总量为 47.02×109 kg 二氧化碳当量,乔 木林固碳占总固碳量的 88.87%,采伐消耗温室气体排放 11.47×109 kg 二氧化碳当量,采伐消耗温室气 体排放二氧化碳当量占总排放量的 76.12%。2010 年固碳量增长 11.68%,采伐消耗温室气体排放增加了 19.85%。通过对比分析,探讨了广东省林业碳汇的提升潜力及方向。     

湖南主要森林类型碳汇功能及其经济价值评价

利用湖南省森林资源主要数据汇编(1999—2003年),依据不同森林类型生物量与蓄积量之间的回归方程,对湖南省几种主要森林类型的生物量和碳贮量进行了推算,分析了不同林龄结构的碳密度以及天然林与人工林的碳贮量,并对整个湖南省的森林经济价值进行估算。结果表明:湖南省主要森林类型的总碳贮量为94.935 Tgc,碳汇总经济价值为70 723.26万元,固定CO2的经济效益达259 554.36万元。阔叶树的碳汇能力最强,其次是杉木和马尾松;湖南省的天然林和人工林的碳贮量相差不大,不同龄组碳密度高低排序的基本规律是:过熟林>成熟林>近熟林>中龄林>幼龄林;而中龄林的碳贮量最多,过熟林碳贮量最少。     

祁连山国家公园青海片区森林植被碳储量与碳汇价值研究

采用祁连山国家公园青海片区2017年的林地变更数据,乔木林和疏林地采用IPCC法,灌木林采用缺省值法,研究了祁连山国家公园青海片区森林植被的生物量、碳储量和碳汇价值。结果表明:(1)祁连山国家公园青海片区森林植被总生物量为339.71万t,总碳储量为170.23万t,单位面积生物量为19.73 t·hm^-2,碳密度为9.89 t·hm^-2,碳交易的潜在价值为2723.61万美元(JI)或4119.46万美元(CDM);(2)乔木林不同树种组的生物量总量、碳储量总量大小排序一致,均为青海云杉Picea crassifolia>祁连圆柏Sabina przewalskii>糙皮桦Betula utilis>白桦B.platyphylla>红桦B.albosinensis>杨树Populus spp.(山杨P.davidiana、青杨P.cathayana、其它杨树)。(3)乔木林不同树种组单位面积生物量和碳密度大小排序一致,均为青海云杉>红桦>白桦>糙皮桦>祁连圆柏>杨树。(4)片区内乔木林总生物量和碳储量中,幼、中龄林所占比例最大(分别为66.2%和66.1%),其原因是近些年青海省依托祁连山环境治理,在祁连山国家公园范围内加大了造林力度,使幼龄林和中龄林比例不断增加。     

A review of the challenges and opportunities in estimating above ground forest biomass using tree-level models

Accurate biomass measurements and analyses are critical components in quantifying carbon stocks and sequestration rates, assessing potential impacts due to climate change, locating bio-energy processing plants, and mapping and planning fuel treatments. To this end, biomass equations will remain a key component of future carbon measurements and estimation. As researchers in biomass and carbon estimation, we review the present scenario of aboveground biomass estimation, focusing particularly on estimation using tree-level models and identify some cautionary points that we believe will improve the accuracy of biomass and carbon estimates to meet societal needs. In addition, we discuss the critical challenges in developing or calibrating tree biomass models and opportunities for improved biomass. Some of the opportunities to improve biomass estimate include integration of taper and other attributes and combining different data sources. Biomass estimation is a complex process, when possible, we should make use of already available resources such as wood density and forest inventory databases. Combining different data-sets for model development and using independent data-sets for model verification will offer opportunities to improve biomass estimation. Focus should also be made on belowground biomass estimation to accurately estimate the full forest contribution to carbon sequestration. In addition, we suggest developing comprehensive biomass estimation methods that account for differences in site and stand density and improve forest biomass modeling and validation at a range of spatial scales.     

Loss of carbon sequestration potential after several decades of shifting cultivation in the Southern Yucatán

Cumulative losses from shifting cultivation in the tropics can affect the local to regional to global balance of carbon and nutrient cycles. We determined whether shifting cultivation in the Southern Yucatán causes feedbacks that limit future forest productivity and carbon sequestration potential. Specifically, we tested how the recovery of carbon stocks changes with each additional cultivation-fallow cycle. Live aboveground biomass, coarse woody debris, fine woody debris, forest floor litter and soil were sampled in 53 sites (39 secondary forests 2–25 years old, with one to four cultivation-fallow cycles, and 14 mature forests) along a precipitation gradient in Campeche and Quintana Roo, Mexico. From the first to the third or fourth cultivation-fallow cycle, mean carbon stocks in live aboveground biomass debris declined 64%. From the first to the third cycle, coarse woody debris declined by 85%. Despite declining inputs to soil with each cultivation-fallow cycle, soil carbon stocks did not further decline after the initial conversion from mature to secondary forest. The combined aboveground and soil carbon stock declined almost 36% after conversion from mature forest, however two additional cultivation cycles did not promote further significant decline, largely because of the stability of the soil carbon pool. Although age was the dominant factor in predicting total carbon stocks of secondary forests under shifting cultivation, the number of cultivation-fallow cycles should not be neglected. Understanding change beyond the first cycle of deforestation will enhance forest management at a local scale by improving predictions of secondary forest productivity and related agricultural productivity. A multi-cycle approach to deforestation is critical for regional and national evaluation of forest-based carbon sequestration. Finally, models of the global carbon cycle can be better constrained with more accurate quantification of carbon fluxes from land-use change.     

内蒙古大青山森林植物群落与碳储量的调查研究

根据内蒙古大青山山地分布的天然林植被和大规模分布的人工林植被构成的森林生态系统,分别就白桦次生林、华北落叶松人工林、油松人工林和虎榛子灌木林等4个主要森林类型进行了林分生物量与森林群落结构的调查。估算了大青山4种主要森林植物类型地上部分碳储量总量为305．25t/hm2,为大青山森林生态功能评价提供依据。     

Carbon storage dynamics of subtropical forests estimated with multi-period forest inventories at a regional scale:the case of Jiangxi forests

Temperate and high-latitude forests are carbon sinks and play pivotal roles in offsetting greenhouse gas emissions of CO_2.However,uncertainty still exists for subtropical forests,especially in monsoon-prevalent eastern Asia.Earlier studies have depended on remote sensing,ecosystem modeling,carbon fluxes,or single period forest surveys to estimate carbon sequestration capacities,and the results vary significantly.This study was designed to utilize multi-period forest survey data to explore spatial-dynamics of biomass storage in subtropical forests of China.Jiangxi province,a region with over 60% subtropical forest cover,was selected as the case study site and is located in central east China.Based on forest inventory data 1984-2013,and the stock-difference and biomass expansion factor methods,the carbon storage and density,of arboreal forests,economic forests,bamboo forests,woodlands and shrubberies were estimated.The results show that carbon storage increased from 159.1 Tg C in 1988 to 276.1 TgC in 2013,making up 3.1-3.8% of carbon stored throughout China.Among the four types of forests,the amount of carbon stored was as follows:arboreal forest economic forest bamboo forest woodland and shrubbery.Arboreal forests accounted for 64.0-79.4% of the total.Forest carbon density increased from 21.2 Mg C ha~(-1) in 1984 to26.2 Mg C ha~(-1) in 2013,equal to 61.2-70.2% of the average carbon density of China's forests in the same period.Forest carbon storage in Jiangxi will reach 355.5 Tg C and 535.8 Tg C in 2020 and 2030,respectively,and forest carbon density is predicted to be 31.9 Mg C ha~(~-1)and 46.4 Mg C ha~(-1),respectively.As one of the few studies using multi-period data tracking biomass dynamics in Jiangxi province,the findings of this study may be used as a reference for other research.Using Jiangxi as a case study underlies the fact that subtropical forests in China have great carbon sequestration potential and have fundamental significance to offset global environmental change effects.     

基于林分生长过程的辽东山区森林植被固碳潜力及其价值研究

利用基于林分生长过程的Richards生长方程以及蓄积量转换生物量模型,评估了辽宁冰砬山长白落叶松人工林和蒙古栎天然次生林两种典型森林类型4个龄级的植被固碳速率、固碳潜力和潜在固碳价值。研究结果表明:两种森林的单位面积植被固碳潜力总体上都是随着龄级的增加单位面积植被固碳潜力在增加。除中龄林外,长白落叶松人工林各个龄级的植被单位面积固碳潜力均比蒙古栎天然次生林大。长白落叶松人工林各龄级森林植被单位面积潜在固碳价值在2 113~9 656元,蒙古栎天然次生林在1 594~4 195元。长白落叶松人工林2000年和2005年的固碳潜力分别为14和11 Gg·a-1,潜在固碳价值分别为1 700和1 300万元·a-1,与2000年相比,2005年固碳潜力和潜在固碳价值都有所降低;蒙古栎天然次生林2000年和2005年的固碳潜力分别为4.8和5.4 Gg·a-1,潜在固碳价值分别为600和700万元·a-1,与2000年相比,2005年固碳潜力和潜在固碳价值都有所增加。     

Description of a new procedure to estimate the carbon stocks of all forest pools and impact assessment of methodological choices on the estimates

Forest ecosystems play a major role in atmospheric carbon sequestration and emission. Comparable organic carbon stock estimates at temporal and spatial scales for all forest pools are needed for scientific investigations and political purposes. Therefore, we developed a new carbon stock (CS) estimation procedure that combines forest inventory and soil and litter geodatabases at a regional scale (southern Belgium). This procedure can be implemented in other regions and countries on condition that available external carbon soil and litter data can be linked to forest inventory plots. The presented procedure includes a specific CS estimation method for each of the following forest pools and subpools (in brackets): living biomass (aboveground and belowground), deadwood (dead trees and snags, coarse woody debris and stumps), litter, and soil. The total CS of the forest was estimated at 86 Tg (185 Mg ha^?1). Soil up to 0.2 m depth, living biomass, litter, and deadwood CSs account, respectively, for 48, 47, 4, and 1 % of the total CS. The analysis of the CS variation within the pools across ecoregions and forest types revealed in particular that: (1) the living biomass CS of broadleaved forests exceeds that of coniferous forests, (2) the soil and litter CSs of coniferous forest exceed those of broadleaved forests, and (3) beech stands come at the top in carbon stocking capacity. Because our estimates differ sometimes significantly from the previous studies, we compared different methods and their impacts on the estimates. We demonstrated that estimates may vary highly, from ?16 to +12 %, depending on the selected methods. Methodological choices are thus essential especially for estimating CO₂ fluxes by the stock change approach. The sources of error and the accuracy of the estimates were discussed extensively.     

鄂西南鹅掌楸天然林林分结构特征

以鄂西南鹤峰县鹅掌楸天然林为研究对象,通过对林分空间结构(角尺度、大小比、混交度)和林分非空间结构 (径级结构、树高结构、重要值)的研究与分析,直观地反映其林分结构的特征,查清该区鹅掌楸种群的发展现状,为鹅掌楸 天然林的合理保护与科学经营提供依据 。在鹅掌楸天然林集中生长的代表性地段建立 17个 20mx20m调查样地,进行 每木定位与检尺调查,应用 Excel2019、Winkelmas2.0软件对样地调查数据进行处理与分析 。结果表明:研究区鹅掌楸 天然林中共 73个树种,鹅掌楸为该群落的优势种,生长处优势地位( =0.17),种群整体呈轻微聚集分布(为 0.56),同 时该种群在林分中呈现极强度混交状态( =0.85):种群整体径级、树高分布都呈右偏正态分布,小径级林木株数很少, 种群整体呈现稳定型一衰退型 。FSI均值为 0.82,FSD 均值为 0.30,林分空间结构为接近于理想状态(41.18%)或达 到理想状态(58.82%)。鹅掌楸天然林处于演替后期,林分结构整体上较为理想,可对处于聚集分布的林木进行适当调整, 辅以 一定人为促进更新的措施,促使鹅掌楸林分结构更加合理。     

Estimating and mapping forest biomass in northeast China using joint forest resources inventory and remote sensing data

Being able to accurately estimate and map forest biomass at large scales is important for a better understanding of the terrestrial carbon cycle and for improving the effectiveness of forest management. In this study, forest plot sample data, forest resources inventory(FRI) data, and SPOT Vegetation(SPOT-VGT) normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI) data were used to estimate total forest biomass and spatial distribution of forest biomass in northeast China(with 1 km resolution). Total forest biomass at both county and provincial scales was estimated using FRI data of 11 different forest types obtained by sampling 1156 forest plots, and newly-created volume to biomass conversion models. The biomass density at the county scale and SPOT-VGT NDVI data were used to estimate the spatial distribution of forest biomass. The results suggest that the total forest biomass was 2.4 Pg(1 Pg = 10~(15) g), with an average of 77.2 Mg ha~(-1), during the study period. Forests having greater biomass density were located in the middle mountain ranges in the study area. Human activities affected forest biomass at different elevations, slopes and aspects. The results suggest that the volume to biomass conversion models that could be developed using more plot samples and more detailed forest type classifications would be better suited for the study area and would provide more accurate biomass estimates. Use of both FRI and remote sensing data allowed the down-scaling of regional forest biomass statistics to forest cover pixels to produce a relatively fineresolution biomass map.     

Economic Benefit Analysis of Carbon Sequestration of Five Typical Forest Types in BeijingMiyun Watershed

This study provides basis information for estimating the feasibility of the environmental and ecological forestry construction project in the area. Through the survey in Miyun watershed, the economical benefits of carbon sequestration in five typical forest types have been studied by calculating the biomass from the timber accumulation data and converting to the money value. The results show that： in the duration of 100 years, at a discount rate of 5%, and 197 RMB yuan/t as the price of the carbon sequestration, the present value （PV） of the carbon sequestration in different forests are： 6900-9300 yuan/ha in Chinese pine forest,6100-8200 yuan/ha in oak forest, 4500-6100 yuan/ha in other broadleaf forests, 2300-3200 yuan/ha in shrubs and 1300-1800 yuan/ha in cypress forest. The annual mean economic benefit of carbon sequestration is 770-1040 yuan/ha. The pine forest has the highest carbon sequestration benefit, followed by oak forest, other broadleaf forest, shrubs, and cypress forest. If the land is suitable for all forests, pine forest and oak forest should be planted in order to sequestrate more carbon.     

干旱和涝渍胁迫对入侵物种喜旱莲子草生长的影响

苦郎树是一种沿海防沙固堤的半红树植物，不仅在红树林群落中具有重要的生态价值，叶片提取物还有一定的医药价值。本研究通过4种光响应模型对苦郎树光响应曲线拟合，计算光合参数进行对比分析，评估最适拟合模型，并研究其光合特性。结果表明：不同模型对苦郎树光响应拟合存在差异，四种模型拟合优度均在0.996以上，苦郎树气孔导度随光合辐射增加而增加，在1800 μmol·m-2·s-1有效光合辐射下达到最大；在500 μmol·m-2·s-1有效光合辐射下水分利用效率最高，胞间二氧化碳维持在一个不变的浓度，与大部分植物的光合特性相似。非直角双曲线模型对苦郎树拟合效果最佳，如何精确拟合光饱和点还需进一步研究，应需要根据实际情况选用最适宜的光响应拟合模型，为海岸生态、防风固堤和园林绿化等工作提供理论依据。     

Forest carbon sequestration in China and its benefits

Carbon sequestration is important in studying global carbon cycle and budget. Here, we used the National Forest Resource Inventory data for China collected from 2004 to 2008 and forest biomass and soil carbon storage data obtained from direct field measurements to estimate carbon (C) sequestration rate and benefit keeping C out of the atmosphere in forest ecosystems and their spatial distributions. Between 2004 and 2008, forests sequestered on average 0.36 Pg C yr^?1 (1 Pg = 10¹⁵g), with 0.30 Pg C yr^?1 in vegetation and 0.06 Pg C yr^?1 in 0–1 meter soil. Under the different forest categories, total C sequestration rate ranged from 0.02 in bamboo forest to 0.11 Pg C yr^?1 in broadleaf forest. The southwest region had highest C sequestration rate, 30% of total C sequestration, followed by the northeast and south central regions. The C sequestration in the forest ecosystem could offset about 21% of the annual C emissions in China over the same period, especially in provinces of Tibet, Guangxi, and Yunnan, and the benefit was similar to most Annex I countries. These results show that forests play an important role in reducing the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide in China, and forest C sequestration are closely related to forest area, tree species composition, and site conditions.     

Estimating aboveground biomass of Pinus densata-dominated forests using Landsat time series and permanent sample plot data

Southwest China is one of three major forest regions in China and plays an important role in carbon sequestration.Accurate estimations of changes in aboveground biomass are critical for understanding forest carbon cycling and promoting climate change mitigation.Southwest China is characterized by complex topographic features and forest canopy structures,complicating methods for mapping aboveground biomass and its dynamics.The integration of continuous Landsat images and national forest inventory data provides an alternative approach to develop a long-term monitoring program of forest aboveground biomass dynamics.This study explores the development of a methodological framework using historical national forest inventory plot data and Landsat TM timeseries images.This method was formulated by comparing two parametric methods:Linear Regression for Multiple Independent Variables(MLR),and Partial Least Square Regression(PLSR);and two nonparametric methods:Random Forest(RF)and Gradient Boost Regression Tree(GBRT)based on the state of forest aboveground biomass and change models.The methodological framework mapped Pinus densata aboveground biomass and its changes over time in Shangri-la,Yunnan,China.Landsat images and national forest inventory data were acquired for 1987,1992,1997,2002 and 2007.The results show that:(1)correlation and homogeneity texture measures were able to characterize forest canopy structures,aboveground biomass and its dynamics;(2)GBRT and RF predicted Pinus densata aboveground biomass and its changes better than PLSR and MLR;(3)GBRT was the most reliable approach in the estimation of aboveground biomass and its changes;and,(4)the aboveground biomass change models showed a promising improvement of prediction accuracy.This study indicates that the combination of GBRT state and change models developed using temporal Landsat and national forest inventory data provides the potential for developing a methodological framework for the long-term mapping and monitoring program of forest aboveground biomass and its changes in Southwest China.     

Biofuel harvests, coarse woody debris, and biodiversity - A meta-analysis

Forest harvest operations often produce large amounts of harvest residue which typically becomes fine (foliage, small limbs and trees) and coarse woody debris (snags and downed logs). If removed at harvest, residual biomass has potential to be a local energy source and to produce marketable biofuel feedstock. But, CWD in particular serves critical life-history functions (e.g., breeding, foraging, basking) for a variety of organisms. Unfortunately, little is known about how forest biodiversity would respond to large scale removal of harvest residues. We calculated 745 biodiversity effect sizes from 26 studies involving manipulations of CWD (i.e., removed or added downed woody debris and/or snags). Diversity and abundance of both cavity- and open-nesting birds were substantially and consistently lower in treatments with lower amounts of downed CWD and/or standing snags, as was biomass of invertebrates. However, cumulative effect sizes for other taxa were not as large, were based on fewer studies, and varied among manipulation types. Little is currently known about biodiversity response to harvest of fine woody debris. Predicting the effects of biomass harvests on forest biodiversity is uncertain at best until more is known about how operational harvests actually change fine and coarse woody debris levels over long time periods. Pilot biomass harvests report post-harvest changes in CWD levels much smaller than the experimental changes involved in the studies we analyzed. Thus, operational biomass harvests may not change CWD levels enough to appreciably influence forest biodiversity, especially when following biomass harvest guidelines that require leaving a portion of harvest residues. Multi-scale studies can help reduce this uncertainty by investigating how biodiversity responses scale from the small scale of manipulative experiments (i.e., 10-ha plots) to operational forest management and how biodiversity response to CWD levels might vary at different spatial and temporal scales and in different landscape contexts.