State Report for Rhode Island

For Rhode Island, estimated merchantable wood volume is expected to decrease from 1.0482 billion cubic-feet to 1.0392 billion (a change of -0.9%), while estimated sawlog wood volume is expected to increase from 594.32 million cubic-feet to 622.51 million (4.7%). Estimated merchantable bole biomass is expected to decrease from 19.384 million tons to 18.068 million (-6.8%), while estimated stump biomass is expected to decrease from 1.055 million tons to 0.97842 million (-7.3%), and estimated tops and limbs biomass is expected to increase from 4.6249 million tons to 7.3834 million (59.6%). Finally, estimated aboveground biomass is expected to increase from 25.36 million tons to 26.764 million, a change of 5.5%.

Figure 1: Percent difference in volume and biomass for Rhode Island

Species breakdown

The top ten species in Rhode Island in terms of standing biomass are red maple, northern red oak, eastern white pine, scarlet oak, black oak, white oak, sweet birch, pitch pine, yellow birch, and blackgum. These species account for 91% of the total aboveground biomass and 91.2% of the total merchantable volume. For merchantable wood volume, the species with the smallest percent change was scarlet oak -0.4%, while the largest percent change was with eastern white pine 15.4%. For total aboveground biomass, the species with the smallest percent change was white oak 1.6%, while the largest percent change was with pitch pine 42.6%. For sawlog wood volume, the species with the smallest percent change was scarlet oak 1.6%, while the largest percent change was with eastern white pine 22.2%. For merchantable bole biomass, the species with the smallest percent change was yellow birch 0%, while the largest percent change was with pitch pine 24.3%. For stump wood and bark biomass, the species with the smallest percent change was red maple -1.7%, while the largest percent change was with yellow birch -24%. For top and limb biomass, the species with the smallest percent change was yellow birch 15.9%, while the largest percent change was with pitch pine 171.9%.

Figure 2: Percent difference in total aboveground biomass and merchantable volume for the top ten species in Rhode Island

Figure 3: Percent difference in component biomass and volume for the top ten species in Rhode Island