Arboreal forests growth carbon sink and assessment of carbon storage in China’s Henan Province

Abstract

Henan province is located in central China and the assessment of its arboreal forests’ carbon sink and carbon storage is important to the sustainable use of forest resources. This study used 2018 forest inventory data to estimate forest biomass and carbon storage. The results showed that: (1) By origin, the carbon storage of natural forest is lower than that of artificial forest. (2) By type, Populus L. accounted for the highest proportion, and together with the carbon storage of Mixed broadleaf and Quercus spp. accounted for 80%. The carbon density of Populus L. is the highest, and that of Cupressus funebris is the lowest. (3) By region, the carbon storage of arboreal forest in Western and southern Henan is the highest, and that in Southeast is the lowest. (4) The carbon storage of the arboreal forest has increased to 8.891 million tons which is equivalent to 32.60 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. This paper’s evaluation of carbon storage is a valuable reference to forest ecosystems in mitigating global climate change.