Robert Matthews, BSc, MSc

Programme Group Manager, Centre for Forest Resources and Management

Robert obtained an honours degree in biophysics from the University of East Anglia in 1983 and an MSc (by research and thesis) in bioengineering from Birmingham University in 1985. He joined Forest Research in 1986 and has devoted his career to developing and applying models that can be used to quantify and improve the economic and environmental performance of forestry systems.

Current role

Programme Group Manager, Centre for Forest Resources and Management

Robert is an authority on forest mensuration, growth and yield. He is also an internationally-recognised expert on methods for quantifying the greenhouse gas balances of forestry and wood production systems, including bioenergy.

Currently he leads the Forest Resource Modelling and Forecasting programme. He is also contributing to development of:

• UK standard methodology for assessment of forest carbon stocks and stock changes
• EU harmonised methodology for evaluation of greenhouse gas balances of bioenergy systems
• Industry standard methodologies for monitoring of timber transactions by weight.

He is a collaborator in the Measurement systems and Forest carbon dynamics programmes and contributes expert advice to many multidisciplinary research projects within Forest Research, notably on short rotation coppice, inventory methods, remote sensing and impact of disease infestation on growth (EU MOHIEF).

He is a full partner in the EU Concerted Action Project, BIOMITRE, which is developing a software tool for evaluating the cost-effectiveness of greenhouse gas mitigation achieved by forestry and bioenergy projects.

Current programmes

• Forest resoource modelling and forecasting (Programme Group Manager)
• Tactical support to inventory and production forecasting (Project Manager)
• Measurement systems
• Climate change mitigation.

Research activities across these programmes include:

• ForestYield – a computer-based replacement for the Forestry Commission yield tables (currently published as Booklet 48)
• A computer-based dynamic growth and yield model for Sitka spruce for evaluating stand management options.
• Biomass models for use in quantifying forest carbon stocks and potential wood fuel production
• Modernised production forecast systems, capable of representing diverse silvicultural systems becoming more widely practised in Britain
• UK standard methodology for assessment of forest carbon stocks and stock changes
• EU harmonised methodology for evaluation of greenhouse gas balances of bioenergy systems Industry standard methodologies for monitoring of timber transactions by weight.

Affiliations and achievements

Conceived and developed the CARBINE forest carbon accounting model and the ERGO model which is used for quantifying greenhouse gas balances of wood and bioenergy production systems.

Involved in many national and international research committees, advisory panels and expert groups over the years, most recently serving as UK National Team Leader for IEA Bioenergy Task 38, Greenhouse Gas Balances of Biomass and Bioenergy Systems.

Member of the Forestry Commission’s Production Forecast Working Group.

Regular contributor at international meetings, recently:

• Addressing a conference on biomass organised by the World Bank in Washington DC, USA
• Moderating a session at a conference organised by IEA Bioenergy Task 38 in Östersund, Sweden
• Participating in a bioenergy conference organised by IEA Bioenergy Task 38 in Rotorua, New Zealand
• Speaking at a meeting of Bioenergy Australia in Sydney.

Research areas

Specification and development of models of:

• Forest growth and yield
• Potential timber utilisation
• Forest greenhouse gas balance
• Economic and environmental performance of forestry and timber produuction
• Stand and forest estate-level performance under alternative policy scenarios.

Development and application of methodologies for:

• Forest mensuration
• Stand structure and yield assessment
• Production forecasting
• Greenhouse gas and carbon accounting
• Environmental impact evaluation
• Forestry project appraisal.

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Main recent publications

Matthews, R.W., Mackie, E.D. and Hamilton G.J. (2004). Forest Mensuration Handbook. Second Edition. (In press.)

Matthews, R., and Mackie, E.D. (2004). Mensuration: Growth and Yield. In Burley, J., Evans, J. and Youngquist, J.A. (eds.). Encyclopaedia of Forest Sciences. Elsevier: Oxford, 2, 573-580.

Lee, S.J. and Matthews, R.W. (2004). An indication of the likely volume gains from improved Sitka spruce planting stock. Forestry Commission Information Note 55. Forestry Commission: Edinburgh.

Broadmeadow, M.J. and Matthews, R.W. (2003). Forests, carbon and climate change: the UK contribution. Forestry Commission Information Note 48. Forestry Commission: Edinburgh.

Korhonen, R., Savolainen, I., Pingoud, K. and Matthews, R.W. (2002). The role of carbon sequestration and the tonne-year approach in fulfilling the objective of climate convention. Environmental Science and Policy, 5, 429-441.

Matthews, R.W. (2001). Modelling of energy and carbon budgets of wood fuel coppice systems. Biomass and Bioenergy, 21, 1-19.

Matthews, R.W. and Robertson, K.A. (eds.) (2001). Answers to ten frequently asked questions about bioenergy, carbon sinks and global climate change. Information leaflet prepared by IEA Bioenergy Task 38, Greenhouse Gas Balances of Biomass and Bioenergy Systems. Graz: IEA Bioenergy Task 38.

Matthews, R.W. and Heaton, R.J. (2001). Effectiveness of carbon accounting methodologies for LULUCF and harvested wood products in supporting climate-conscious measures. In: Schlamadinger, B., Woess-Gallasch, S. and Cowie, A. (eds.) Carbon accounting and emissions trading related to bioenergy, wood products and carbon sequestration. Proceedings of a Workshop organised by IEA Bioenergy Task 38, 26-30 March 2001, Canberra, Australia. Graz: IEA Bioenergy Task 38, 109-128.

Marland, G., Schlamadinger, B. and Matthews, R.W. (2000). Kyoto forests and a broader perspective on management. Science, 290, 1895-1986.

Matthews, R.W. and Mortimer, N.D. (2000). Estimation of carbon dioxide and energy budgets of wood-fired electricity generation systems in Britain. In: Robertson, K.A. and Schlamadinger, B., eds. Bioenergy for mitigation of CO2 emissions: the power, transportation and industrial sectors. Proceedings of a Workshop organised by IEA Bioenergy Task 25, 27-30 September 1999, Gatlinburg, USA. Graz: IEA Bioenergy Task 25, 59-78.

Campbell, P.I., Vials, C. and Matthews, R.W.  (2000). ERGO: an integrated, user-friendly model for computing energy and greenhouse gas budgets of bioenergy systems. In: Robertson, K.A. and Schlamadinger, B., eds. Bioenergy for mitigation of CO2 emissions: the power, transportation and industrial sectors. Proceedings of a Workshop organised by IEA Bioenergy Task 25, 27-30 September 1999, Gatlinburg, USA. Graz: IEA Bioenergy Task 25, 45-58.

Matthews, R.W. (2000). Yield estimation in SRC. In Armstrong, A.T. and Claridge, J. (eds.) Short rotation coppice and wood fuel symposium: from research to renewable energy. Forestry Commission: Edinburgh.

Matthews, R.W. and Methley, J.M. (1998). Development of interactive yield models for UK conditions. Forest Research Annual Report and Accounts 1997-98, 56-61. The Stationery Office: Edinburgh.

Matthews, R.W. (1996). The influence of carbon budget methodology on assessments of the impacts of forest management on the carbon balance. In Apps, M.J. and Price, D.T. (eds.) Forest ecosystems, forest management and the global carbon cycle. NATO ASI Series I 40, 233-243. Springer-Verlag: Berlin.

Matthews, R.W., Nabuurs, G.-J., Alexeyev, V., Birdsey, R.A., Fischlin, A., Maclaren, J.P., Marland, G. and Price, D.T. (1996). WG3 Summary: evaluating the role of forest management and forest products in the carbon cycle.  In Apps, M.J. and Price, D.T. (eds.) Forest ecosystems, forest management and the global carbon cycle.  NATO ASI Series, I 40, 293-301.  Springer-Verlag: Berlin.

Matthews, R.W. (1994). Towards a methodology for the evaluation of the carbon budget of forests. In Kanninen, M. (ed.) Carbon balance of the world’s forested ecosystems: towards a global assessment. Proceedings of a workshop held by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change AFOS, Joensuu, Finland, 11-15 May 1992, 105-114. Painatuskeskus: Helsinki.

Matthews, R.W., Matthews, G.A.R., Anderson, R.A. and Sencee, S.S. (1991). Construction of yield tables for woody biomass production and carbon storage by British plantation tree species. Proceedings 10th World Forestry Congress, 2, 87-97.