Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Value-Added Forest Carbon Offset Projects: Application of the South Korean Emission Trading System in the Forestry Sector

Version 1 : Received: 10 May 2021 / Approved: 11 May 2021 / Online: 11 May 2021 (11:09:29 CEST)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Woo, H.; Acuna, M.; Choi, B.; Kim, J. Net Revenue of Forest Carbon Offset Projects: Application of the Korean Emission Trading System in the Forestry Sector. Forests 2021, 12, 742. Woo, H.; Acuna, M.; Choi, B.; Kim, J. Net Revenue of Forest Carbon Offset Projects: Application of the Korean Emission Trading System in the Forestry Sector. Forests 2021, 12, 742.

Abstract

Under the “Korean emission trading system in the forestry sector (KETSF)” initiative, the South Korean government has developed several greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction programs that include forestry activities as the cornerstones of the initiative. Forest management is deemed to be a major strategy to implement KETSF; this has been confirmed by most participants in the program, who have shown their preference for forest management projects as the most effective and encouraging strategy to participate in the KETSF program. For a successful implementation of KETSF projects is essential to explore methods that optimize the positive impacts of such strategies, thereby maximizing the economic returns and carbon stocks that result from the implementation of forest management activities. Thus, this study investigated several value-added KETSF projects in South Korea, which included simulated scenarios under two main forest management strategies: one based on an extension of the rotation age, and a second one based on reforestation with new species. Five forest management scenarios were examined and evaluated in their ability to maximize carbon stocks and economic returns. Based on the results, Scenarios 2 and 4 were identified as the best KETSF projects in terms of carbon stock increments. Additionally, the results indicated that projects including reforestation with new species added more economic value than projects that considered an extension of the rotation age. The study also revealed that KETSF projects generated revenue in both scenarios, by either extending the rotation age or by implementing reforestation with new species.

Keywords

forest carbon offset scheme, South Korea, economic assessment, forest management, climate change

Subject

Environmental and Earth Sciences, Atmospheric Science and Meteorology

Comments (0)

We encourage comments and feedback from a broad range of readers. See criteria for comments and our Diversity statement.

Leave a public comment
Send a private comment to the author(s)
* All users must log in before leaving a comment
Views 0
Downloads 0
Comments 0
Metrics 0


×
Alerts
Notify me about updates to this article or when a peer-reviewed version is published.
We use cookies on our website to ensure you get the best experience.
Read more about our cookies here.