Effects of thinning on aboveground carbon sequestration by a 45-year-old eastern white pine plantation: A case study

Aboveground carbon sequestration by a 45-year-old plantation of eastern white pines was determined in response to thinning to three levels of residual basal area: (1) Control (no thinning), (2) light thinning to 120 feet2/acre and (3) heavy thinning to 80 feet2/acre. After 11 years carbon stocks were lowest on the heavily thinned plot, but there was little practical difference between carbon dynamics on the unthinned and lightly thinned plots. Carbon stocks of an adjacent 113-year-old unthinned reference hardwood stand of mixed oaks were about half that of the unthinned pine plantation. Results from this unreplicated pilot study are useful primarily for planning future investigations.