Qualitatively assessing trade-offs and co-benefits at local scales when considering carbon outcomes among other management goals

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2026

Abstract

Natural and working lands are often touted as natural climate solutions due to their ability to take up and store carbon, and land managers are increasingly tasked with considering how management actions impact carbon outcomes alongside other management goals. As a result, there is a need to assess how management actions may drive trade-offs and co-benefits between multiple management goals. However, quantitative analysis of trade-offs is not feasible for many local-scale management projects. We used a case study in an oak savanna in south-eastern Wisconsin, U.S.A. to develop and test a framework for qualitatively analysing local-scale trade-offs. Our framework is built on five pillars that guide the rigorous and qualitative analysis of trade-offs between carbon and other management outcomes. This framework is intended to be flexible for use by natural resource professionals working across diverse landscapes and management goals. Practical implication: Our work highlights how the principles of knowledge co-production, climate adaptation, and carbon stewardship can be integrated with one another into effective land management planning.

Publication Title

Ecological Solutions and Evidence

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