Abstract
BackgroundForest carbon models are recognized as suitable tools for the reporting and verification of forest carbon stock and stock change, as well as for evaluating the forest management options to enhance the carbon sink provided by sustainable forestry. However, given their increased complexity and data availability, different models may simulate different estimates. Here, we compare carbon estimates for Romanian forests as simulated by two models (CBM and EFISCEN) that are often used for evaluating the mitigation options given the forest-management choices.ResultsThe models, calibrated and parameterized with identical or harmonized data, derived from two successive national forest inventories, produced similar estimates of carbon accumulation in tree biomass. According to CBM simulations of carbon stocks in Romanian forests, by 2060, the merchantable standing stock volume will reach an average of 377 m3 ha−1, while the carbon stock in tree biomass will reach 76.5 tC ha−1. The EFISCEN simulations produced estimates that are about 5% and 10%, respectively, lower. In addition, 10% stronger biomass sink was simulated by CBM, whereby the difference reduced over time, amounting to only 3% toward 2060.ConclusionsThis model comparison provided valuable insights on both the conceptual and modelling algorithms, as well as how the quality of the input data may affect calibration and projections of the stock and stock change in the living biomass pool. In our judgement, both models performed well, providing internally consistent results. Therefore, we underline the importance of the input data quality and the need for further data sampling and model improvements, while the preference for one model or the other should be based on the availability and suitability of the required data, on preferred output variables and ease of use.
Highlights
Forest carbon models are recognized as suitable tools for the reporting and verification of forest car‐ bon stock and stock change, as well as for evaluating the forest management options to enhance the carbon sink pro‐ vided by sustainable forestry
The Abbreviation from the CBM-CFS3 (CBM) model was originally created to be applied to the Canadian forest inventory, having the aim to perform an inventory of the carbon stock and stock changes in managed and nonmanaged forests [16]
In 2010, the forests available for wood supply (FAWS) area of the National Forest Inventory (NFI)-1 consisted of 17% coniferous, 63% broadleaved and 20% mixed forests (NFI-1)
Summary
Forest carbon models are recognized as suitable tools for the reporting and verification of forest car‐ bon stock and stock change, as well as for evaluating the forest management options to enhance the carbon sink pro‐ vided by sustainable forestry Given their increased complexity and data availability, different models may simulate different estimates. The model performs a soil-initialization process through iterations until the amount of carbon in slowly decaying DOM pools converges to less than 1% difference at the end of two successive rotations Once this steady state has been reached by soil-specific pools, the model grows each forest stand to the initial year age class by applying the corresponding yield table (a quasiequilibrium approach) with the intention to ensure a smoother transition to first simulated years. The simulator transfers carbon to and among DOM pools and their emissions to the atmosphere
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