Forests and Decarbonization – Roles of Natural and Planted Forests

Martin Siegert,Mark Adams,Bonnie Waring,Iain Colin Prentice,Pete Smith,Mathias Neumann

doi:10.3389/ffgc.2020.00058

Abstract

The severe consequences of human disruptions to the global carbon cycle have prompted intense interest in strategies to reduce atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Because growing forests capture CO2 in their biomass and soils, large-scale tree planting efforts have been advertised as a viable way to counteract anthropogenic emissions as part of net-zero emission strategies. Here, we assess the potential impact of reforestation and afforestation on the global climate system, and identify ecological, economic, and societal implications of such efforts.

Highlights

Reviewed by: Marcello Vitale, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy Jacqueline Robyn England, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia
Because growing forests capture CO2 in their biomass and soils, large-scale tree planting efforts have been advertised as a viable way to counteract anthropogenic emissions as part of net-zero emission strategies
Afforestation and reforestation can generate a wide range of ecosystem services in addition to carbon capture, and tree planting should be included in diverse portfolios of methods to reduce atmospheric CO2 (Chazdon and Brancalion, 2019)

Summary

Forests and Decarbonization

Forests established by reforestation (planting trees on formerly forested land) and afforestation (planting trees where they historically did not exist) can enhance the terrestrial carbon sink, thereby slowing accumulation of CO2 in the atmosphere. Once land requirements for nature conservation and agricultural production are accounted for, about 10% of global net primary production (5 GtC/year) can be considered available for C sequestration in forests (Running, 2012). Just managing this quantity more efficiently – ensuring it is not released through disturbance, but rather stored in long-term products or used to replace fossil fuels – would have tangible effects in the decade. Afforestation and reforestation can generate a wide range of ecosystem services in addition to carbon capture, and tree planting should be included in diverse portfolios of methods to reduce atmospheric CO2 (Chazdon and Brancalion, 2019)

HOW MUCH CARBON CAN FORESTS CAPTURE?

Species Selection and Early Site Management

CONCLUSION

Findings

Optimizing Forest Management