Forest edge effect on biomass carbon along altitudinal gradients in Chinese Fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata): A study from Southeastern China

Abstract

Monitoring and mapping forest carbon is critical for informing climate change mitigation measures. Evidence indicates that forest edges hold less carbon than the forest interior. In this study, using field inventory data from a Chinese fir forest ecosystem in southeast China, the carbon at the forest edge and forest interior at different elevations was measured. The results showed a significant increasing trend in carbon with elevation. The results also revealed that forest edges had significantly lower carbon than the forest interior. Carbon density values varied between 265 Mg C ha−1 at forest edges and 320 Mg C ha−1 at forest interior. The study highlights that ignoring edge effects overestimates carbon density by 9.46%. These findings suggest that edge effects should be given proper consideration during national forest carbon inventory. Furthermore, the authors recommend the establishment of permanent sampling plots along forest edges for precise and accurate carbon accounting.