Table 34. Comparison of Components of Forestry and Land Use Change Included in the Kyoto Protocol 
and IPCC Guidelines

IPCC Category Category 1997 U.S. Carbon Sequestered
(Million Metric Tons)
Included in the Kyoto Protocol?
Reason
Included
In IPCC Guidelines?
Changes in Forest and Other Woody Biomass Stocks Carbon flux, timberland only 161, of which 92 in soil carbon. Yes. Limited to the portion that is anthropogenic and subject to afforestation, reforestation, or deforestation since 1990. Yes
Carbon flux, reserved and other forest land (national parks, etc.) 36, of which 19 in soil carbon. No. As above, but most parkland will not have been subject to afforestation, reforestation, or deforestation since 1990. Yes
Carbon stored in wood products 13 No. Emissions or sequestration away from the forest may not be considered "direct." Possible future inclusion under Article 3.4. Yes
Carbon stored in landfills 17 No. Emissions or sequestration away from the forest may not be considered "direct." Possible future inclusion under Article 3.4. Yes
Carbon emitted by wood burned for energy -55 No. Emissions or sequestration away from the forest may not be considered "direct." Possible future inclusion under Article 3.4. Yes
Carbon emitted by decay and non-energy burning -53 No. Emissions or sequestration away from the forest may not be considered "direct." Possible future inclusion under Article 3.4. Yes
Forest and Grassland Conversion Carbon emitted by forest conversion to agricultural uses Not available. Yes. Deforestation, if the conversion occurs after 1990. Yes
Carbon emitted by grassland conversion to agricultural uses Not available. No. Not afforestation, deforestation, or reforestation. Possible future inclusion under Article 3.4, if since 1990. Yes
Abandonment of Managed Lands Carbon sequestered on abandoned formerly managed lands that revert to forest Not available. Yes, if the conversion occurs after 1990. Afforestation or reforestation. Yes
Carbon sequestered on abandoned formerly managed lands that revert to grassland Not available. No. Not afforestation, deforestation, or reforestation. Possible future inclusion under Article 3.4, if since 1990. Yes
Changes in Soil Carbon Changes in soil carbon 92 timberland, 19 other forests. Otherwise, not available. Yes, if the land otherwise qualifies and soil carbon is deemed "verifiable." Yes for non-forest land, maybe for forests.

Note: The calculations in this table are based on an earlier estimate of sequestration than that shown in Table 33. Hence, both the totals and the distribution of tons into categories for 1997 differ by about 10 percent (209 million metric tons versus 227 million metric tons).
Sources: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Greenhouse Gas Inventory Reference Manual: Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, Vol. 3 (Paris, France, 1997), pp. 5.1-5.50, web site www.iea.org/ipcc/invs6.htm. Sequestration from R.A. Birdsey and L.S. Heath, "Carbon Changes in U.S. Forests," in L.A. Joyce (ed.), Productivity of America's Forests and Climate Change, General Technical Report RM-GTR-271 (Fort Collins, CO: USDA Forest Service, 1995), pp. 64-65, 67.

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