Abstract
Forests are key elements in mitigating the effects of climate change due to the fact of their carbon sequestration capacity. Forest management can be oriented to optimise the carbon sequestration capacity of forest stands, in line with other productive objectives and the generation of ecosystem services. This research aimed to determine whether thinning treatments have a positive influence on the growth patterns of some of the main Mediterranean pine species and, therefore, on their Carbon (C) fixation capacity, both in terms of living biomass and soil organic carbon. The results obtained show that C sequestration capacity (biomass and SOC) increased at higher thinning intensities due to the induced alterations in tree growth patterns. We observed almost a 1.5-fold increase in P. nigra and P. sylvestris, respectively, and over a two-fold increase in P. pinaster under heavy thinning treatments; SOC stocks were affected by the intensity of the thinning treatments. These results can contribute to improving silvicultural practices aimed at C sequestration in forest plantations located in dry areas of the Mediterranean.
Highlights
Forests ecosystems are key elements in the mitigation of global warming through their carbon-fixing capacity [1]
We aimed to obtain promising answers for the following hypotheses: (a) Do thinning treatments positively alter tree growth patterns in Mediterranean pine species and, the biomass C dynamic? (b) Are biomass and soil organic carbon storage that are modulated by thinning treatments beneficial to climate sensitivity? (c) Are we managing our forests efficiently? The results of this work can contribute to improving the silvicultural practices oriented to the sequestration of C in forest plantations located in dry Mediterranean areas
Our results showed no significant differences in the total carbon stock accumulated in the above and belowground biomass
Summary
Forests ecosystems are key elements in the mitigation of global warming through their carbon-fixing capacity [1]. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s report [2] addressed the response of countries to reduce the constant increase in atmospheric CO2 and, global warming alterations. Recent concerning underestimations regarding global CO2 emission sources have been brought to attention by policymakers. These measurements are critically pointing at global C sequestration to assess the impact of forest management on climate change mitigation (EASAC). A sharp increase in forest harvesting has been found in 26 European countries with potential climate change impacts from forest carbon sequestration and other ecosystem services containing
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