The Carbon Sequestration of Oak Forests in Shanxi Province, China

Abstract

Oak forest is one of the most crucial zonal forests in Shanxi Province, China. A precise estimation of its carbon sequestration is of great value to the construction of regional carbon budgets. In this study, field measurement data from 47 oak forest stands and the 8th forest inventory data of Shanxi Province have been collected. Using the field measurement data, the relationship between stand volume and biomass is established with an accuracy test. By applying the relationship and a specific carbon concentration coefficient to the forest inventory data, the carbon sequestration of oak forests in Shanxi Province is estimated. The results show that the total carbon sequestration of the local oak forests is 16.19 × 106 t. Among the forests in different age classes, the mid-aged and premature forests are acting as the major carbon sink, with their carbon sequestration accounting for 28.2% and 44.2% of the total amount respectively.