Medium-term economic evaluation of forest harvest intensity impact on wood growth and carbon sequestration services in western part of Guilan province, Iran

In present research, the influence of harvesting intensity on forest wood growth and carbon sequestration services was evaluated following 20 years from logging in tree and soil sections in western part of Guilan province, Iran. For this, three compartments with similar site conditions but different harvest intensities and 20 years harvestion history in west part of Gilan forest were selected and wood growth also carbon sequestratin were estimated. For determining wood growth, was used systematic sampling method with establishment 1000m2 fixed plots. Carbon sequestration amounts in tree and soil sections were estimated using photosynthesis and respiration equation and wood products amounts were estimated with measuring annual growth. The average carbon emission cost calculated 31.8MillionRials (53$) and the average weithed wood price calculated 250 MillionRials (416.7$). The results of ANOVA test showed that forest capital value was significantly different at one percent level regarding wood production (sig.=0.000, F=117.993) and carbon sequestration (sig.=0.001, t=8.99). There was significant differences between two ecosystem services regarding wood production and carbon sequestration (sig.=0.001, F=14.740). According to the results, it is concluded that probably in medium harvest intensity level, wood growth and carbon sequestration in forest ecosystems can be increase that this important note maybe help forest managers to make better decision for managing forest in general level so that provide movement to sustainable forest management.