Tree Cover and Biomass Carbon on Agricultural Land in Mala Planina

Abstract

Agroforestry is a neglected link in the carbon storage, and the role of trees in carbon sequestration in these systems is significantly underestimated. They can be used as a tool in climate change mitigation. Moreover, they can provide subsistence farmers with unexpected benefits, such as lower erosion levels, increased habitat and landscape diversity, cleaner air and many others. The main aims of the current investigation are to examine the presence of a tree cover on agricultural land in Mala Planina, which is located in the Western Balkan Range and to study its role in carbon collection. The maps of tree cover and biomass carbon on agricultural land in the mountain are derived from the Center for Mountain Ecosystem Studies (CMES), Kunming Institute of Botany/World Agroforestry Centre for Global Tree Cover and Biomass Carbon on Agricultural Land (http://www.worldagroforestry.org/global-tree-cover/data-download.html), provided by Zomer et al. (Sci Rep 6:29987, 2016) and processed to uncover the current status. The results of the investigation show that 3391 ha, equivalent to 33.91 km2, of the agricultural land in Mala Planina are covered by trees, which are responsible for the storage of 1,344,135 kg C/ha.