Abstract
Forests (either natural or planted) play a key role in climate change mitigation due to their huge carbon-storing potential. In the 1980s, the Hellenic Public Power Corporation (HPPC) started the rehabilitation of lignite post-mining areas in Northwest Greece by planting mainly black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.). Today, these plantations occupy about 2570 ha, but the accumulation of Above Ground Biomass (AGB) and deadwood has not been assessed to date. Therefore, we aimed at estimating these biomass pools by calibrating an allometric model for AGB, performing an inventory for both pools and predicting the spatial distribution of AGB. 214 sample plots of 100 m2 each were set up through systematic sampling in a grid dimension of 500 × 500 m and tree dbh and height were recorded. AGB was estimated using an exponential allometric model and performing inventory measurements and was on average 57.6 t ha−1. Kriging analysis reliably estimated mean AGB, but produced errors in the prediction of high and low biomass values, related to the high fragmentation and heterogeneity of the studied area. Mean estimated AGB was low compared with European biomass yield tables for black locust. Similarly, standing deadwood was low (6–10%) and decay degrees were mostly 1 and 2, indicating recent deadwood formation. The overall low biomass accumulation in the studied black locust restoration plantations may be partially attributed to their young age (5–30 years old), but is comparable to that reported in black locust restoration plantation in extremely degraded sites. Thus, black locust successfully adapted to the studied depositions of former mines and its accumulated biomass has the potential to improve the carbon footprint of the region. However, the invasiveness of the species should be considered for future management planning of these restoration plantations.
Highlights
Forests are considered important components in climate change mitigation strategies for being key drivers of greenhouse gas removals and for facilitating the global community target of net-zero emission by 2050 [1]
Among forest management actions aiming at maximizing the forest carbon sequestration potential, increasing forest cover in degraded non-forested land is one of the most promising approaches [4]
Major challenges to this respect include evaluating the growth potential and the associated Above Ground Biomass (AGB) accumulation of species with high adaptation potential to adverse growth conditions and to changing climate [5]
Summary
Forests are considered important components in climate change mitigation strategies for being key drivers of greenhouse gas removals and for facilitating the global community target of net-zero emission by 2050 [1]. Ground Biomass (AGB), a carbon pool that represents 30% of the total carbon of terrestrial ecosystems [1] In this sense, countries and companies worldwide need to adopt strategies towards enhancing forest carbon sequestration and reducing greenhouse gas emissions [3]. Among forest management actions aiming at maximizing the forest carbon sequestration potential, increasing forest cover in degraded non-forested land is one of the most promising approaches [4]. Major challenges to this respect include evaluating the growth potential and the associated AGB accumulation of species with high adaptation potential to adverse growth conditions and to changing climate [5]. Data-based information on growth potential, biomass accumulation and associated carbon assimilation capacity of forest plantations is essential to estimate their climate change mitigation potential and plan their future management
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