Optimal carbon sequestration path when different biological or physical sequestration functions are available

Abstract

We set out a general framework to discuss carbon sequestration programs when di§erent alternatives are available and each of them yields sequestration beneÖts far into the future and at varying rates. We focus on reforestations, since trees grow for a long time, at varying rates, and di§erent types of species yield completely di§erent sequestration rates. We show that the Social Planner (and the landowner) will continuously change the species used for the reforestations and that the trend is to use slower and slower growing species as the land available for reforestations becomes scarcer and carbon builds up in the atmosphere