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How relevant is the role of CO2 from harvested wood products (HWPs) for the Brazilian GHG emission balance? The C stocks and CO2 emissions and removals from the HWPs in Brazil during 1900–2016 were evaluated using three methodological approaches: stock-change approach (SCA), production approach (PA), and stock-change of domestic origin (SCDOA). Data from the FAO's FAOSTAT system on production, import and export of semi-finished products (sawnwood, wood-based panels and paper/paperboard) were analyzed, considering distinct land-use activities: deforestation (D), forest management (FM) and afforestation/reforestation (A/R). Two scenarios to evaluate the effect of HWPs from D were evaluated. The C stock in HWPs in 2016 reached 252 Mt C, by SCA. Contributions to C storage historically were higher from sawnwood, but wood-based panels and paper/paperboard have recently outperformed it. A/R is the major activity responsible for C storage in HWPs. The CO2 removal by HWPs was 521 Mt during 1990–2016, which corresponds to 1.1% of the country's emissions in the same period. It was concluded that Brazil has become a major producer and wood consumer and that HWPs are allies for a positive C balance and fulfillment of the commitments assumed by the country regarding climate change. AFOLU Agriculture, forestry and other land uses A/R Afforestation/reforestation D Deforestation FAO United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization FM Forest management HWPs Harvested wood products IBGE Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics PA Production approach PEVS Plant extraction and forestry SCA Stock-change approach SCDOA Stock-change of domestic origin approach [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cork oak stands are one of the major sources of income from Portuguese Mediterranean forests. Future climate is projected to increase temperatures, reduce precipitation and decrease current forests' productivity and therefore, adapting management, is a key strategy to mitigate impacts of future climate on cork supply. The central objective of this research was to compare conventional and adaptive management regimes under scenarios of climate change. The adaptive management focussed on adopting optimal harvest schedules while considering different management objectives. The study focused on the Chamusca region, one of the most productive areas of cork, and considered four distinct spatial scales for analysis. For each scale, the management objective was defined according to field information and considered the maximization of cork production while targeting different cork harvesting flows: (a) more frequent and regular or (b) less frequent and concentrated. A forest growth model was used to simulate climate change impact on future yield of cork oak stands under different forest management alternatives. A mixed integer programming model was developed to find the most adequate cork debarking cycle calendar for cork oak stands. Our results suggest that (1) business as usual management under climate change scenarios could decrease cork supply and carbon stock in the tree component of the forests by up to 20 and 30 %, respectively, (2) the development of adaptive management strategies, including cork extraction schedule optimization, to address climate change has advantages over traditional practices and (3) may contribute further to increase cork production (up to double productivity in mid-long term) while addressing concerns with the regulation of cork extraction flows through the adaptation of debarking periods. The mixed integer programming allowed the spatial visualization of the debarking cycle delay. Furthermore, results underline the relevance of an approach to develop adaptive management strategies that can consider different management goals, with different constraints to address climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Umbrella pine (Pinus pinea L.) cones take three years to develop. With the increasing frequency of extreme droughts, water available for trees has decreased—climate change is a reality. The cone's survival in its first two years of development and the average cone weight during its last year of maturation is affected, thus, reducing kernel quantity and quality. Climate change has resulted in forest fires becoming an inescapable issue in forest management planning. A literature review was carried out, focusing, on one hand, the predicted climatic changes for the Mediterranean basin and, on the other hand, the umbrella pine silvicultural mechanisms at tree, stand, and landscape levels that may help to face these constraints. Finally, the Portuguese case was focused, describing the management practices that are being adopted to achieve, even when the period of cone formation and growth include dry years, one to six tons of cones per hectare per year in adult stands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]