Carbon sequestration capability of Fagus sylvatica forests developing in the Majella National Park (Central Apennines, Italy)

Abstract

Terrestrial ecosystems represent a major sink for atmospheric carbon (C) and temperate forests play an important role in global C cycling, contributing to lower atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration through photosynthesis. The Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change highlights that the forestry sector has great potential to decrease atmospheric CO2 concentration compared to other sectoral mitigation activities. The aim of this study was to evaluate CO2 sequestration (CO2S) capability of Fagus sylvatica (beech) growing in the Orfento Valley within Majella National Park (Abruzzo, Italy). We compared F. sylvatica areas subjected to thinning (one high-forest and one coppice) and no-management areas (two high-forests and two coppices). The results show a mean CO2S of 44.3 ± 2.6 Mg CO2 ha−1 a−1, corresponding to 12.1 ± 0.7 Mg C ha−1 a−1 the no-managed areas having a 28% higher value than the managed areas. The results highlight that thinning that allows seed regeneration can support traditional management practices such as civic use in some areas while no management should be carried out in the reserve in order to give priority to the objective of conservation and naturalistic improvement of the forest heritage.