Abstract
Hardwood floodplain (HF) forests can store a considerable amount of carbon (C), and floodplains may be good candidates for reforestation to provide natural C sinks. In this study, we use nondestructive inventory methods to estimate the C stocks of different tree species and C pools within HF forests of varying age and structure and located at sites differing in hydrological conditions (low and high active floodplain, seepage water zone, tributaries). The study was carried out along the Elbe river (Germany). Average C stocks for young plantations in the active floodplain were significantly lower (50.2 ± 10.8 SE Mg ha−1) than those of old dense (140.6 ± 11.6 SE Mg ha−1) and old sparse forests (180.4 ± 26.6 SE Mg ha−1) with comparable hydrological conditions. C stocks of old dense forests did not significantly vary from old sparse forests. Additionally, C stocks of old forests did not significantly vary according to hydrological conditions. The highest amount of C was stored in Quercus robur for all hydrological conditions. Ulmus laevis stored the second-highest amount of C on the active floodplain. We conclude that sparse and dense forests as well as forests under different hydrological conditions provide the same C storage function.
Highlights
Hardwood floodplain (HF) forests can store a considerable amount of carbon (C) in woody biomass and provide many ecological services such as climate regulation through long-term C storage [1,2,3]
HF forests grow on the seepage water zone behind the dike and on tributary floodplains, but they have different hydrological site conditions which may influence their function
Many of today’s remnants of HF forests are patchy and sparse, and dense HF forests with successful natural regeneration are rare
Summary
Hardwood floodplain (HF) forests can store a considerable amount of carbon (C) in woody biomass and provide many ecological services such as climate regulation through long-term C storage [1,2,3]. HF forests have declined substantially during the last centuries, and in Germany, natural HF forests have been reduced to less than 1% of the active floodplain area [4,5,6]. Ages and continued with the expansion of agricultural land and the construction of dikes [7]. 10–20% of the former floodplains of the major river catchments in Germany are left, and these active floodplain areas are dominated by managed grasslands [5,6]. HF forests grow on the seepage water zone behind the dike and on tributary floodplains, but they have different hydrological site conditions which may influence their function. Many of today’s remnants of HF forests are patchy and sparse, and dense HF forests with successful natural regeneration are rare
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