Carbon Storage In Aboveground Biomass Research Articles

The Effect of Tree Pruning on Growth and Potential of Carbon Storage in Aboveground Biomass in Royal Park Rajapruek in Chiang Mai Province

The Effect of Tree Pruning on Growth and Potential of Carbon Storage in Aboveground Biomass in Royal Park Rajapruek in Chiang Mai Province

Exploring the relationship between tree diversity and carbon storage in aboveground biomass of coffee agroforestry systems in southern Manabí, Ecuador

ABSTRACT The study was conducted at three sampling sites in the province of Manabí, Ecuador, designated for coffee production under an agroforestry system (AFS). A total of 21 plant species were recorded, and the carbon stored in live aboveground biomass was estimated. The results showed that coffee-based AFS has a high potential for carbon storage, and species diversity is related to the structural parameters and diversity of each sampling site. The implementation of coffee-based AFS is an effective strategy for the conservation of native flora and climate change mitigation in the area.

Structure and Ecosystem Services of Three Common Urban Tree Species in an Arid Climate City

Urban forests play a critical role in improving the quality of life in cities, but in arid environments, little is known about the potential benefits and growth conditions of different tree species. Our study aimed to fill this gap by investigating the relationships between tree dimensions, above-ground biomass carbon storage, and shading potential in three common urban trees in the arid city of Jericho, Palestine, (i.e., Ficus nitida, Delonix regia, and Phoenix dactylifera). The trees were chosen according to their distribution in urban locations and tree vitality, with ages ranging from 20 to 90 years. Based on the results from tree structure measurements, the carbon storage and shading potential were calculated using the City Tree model. The results indicate a moderate to strong relationship between tree height, crown diameter, and crown volume for F. nitida and D. regia (R2 = 0.28–0.66), but no relationship for P. dactylifera (R2 = 0.03–0.06). The findings suggest that the analyzed tree species can considerably contribute to the potential benefits of trees in improving the climate of an arid city: D. regia shows a higher median of above-ground biomass carbon storage of 155 kg C tree−1, while P. dactylifera 91 kg C and F. nitida 76 Kg C. D. regia and F. nitida have a higher median of shading potential, (31 m2–41 m2), respectively. Information on the ecosystem services from urban trees and their relationships in terms of species, age, and tree planting urban location are very important for city planners, in relation to sustainable urban green spaces in arid cities.

Determining the Effects of Changes in Land Use on Carbon Amount in Above-Ground Biomass with NDVI

<p>In terms of sustainable land use management, it is extremely important to reveal the land conditions and the changes that occur on the land in certain periods. In this study, using CORINE data for Düzce province, land use status and transitions between land-use classes over 28 years were investigated. In addition, changes in carbon storage in above-ground biomass were determined for each land-use and land transition using Landsat satellite images for the years 1990 and 2018. 28 years, artificial surfaces increased from 3,852 hectares to 9,058 hectares. While agricultural areas increased by 11.5% to 114,650 hectares, forest and semi-natural areas decreased by 14% to 122,955 hectares. 96.7% of the increase in agricultural areas was land converted from forest areas. While the amount of carbon stored in the forest and semi-natural areas increased by 27.9%, it increased by 30.5% in agricultural areas. With land transitions, 17.8% of the total carbon (14,407 tons) was transferred from one land use to another. In terms of annual land-use change rate between 1990 and 2018, the highest rate of land-use change was in the post-earthquake 2000-2006 period. The information in this study will make important contributions to policymakers in land management and planning.</p>

Opportunity Costs of In Situ Carbon Storage Derived by Multiple-Objective Stand-Level Optimization—Results from Case Studies in Portugal and Germany

Considering in situ carbon storage in forest management has gained momentum under increasing pressure to decarbonize our economies. Here, we present results from case studies in Portugal and Germany showing the opportunity costs of in situ carbon storage derived by multiple-objective optimization. We used a stand-level model to optimize land expectation value under uncertainty as a reference, then derived opportunity costs by including the enhancement of the average carbon storage in aboveground biomass as a second objective. Using the optimal (compromise) solution when considering both objectives simultaneously, we show opportunity costs of EUR 119 (Portugal) and EUR 68 (Germany) per Mg CO2eq. These opportunity costs are higher than conservative, but lower than alternative cost estimates for future damages caused by current CO2 emissions. An important result was that suggested reference solutions in both countries (though only for low discount rates in Portugal) were mixed forests without clearfelling. In Germany, this implicitly elevated carbon storage. Such “closer-to-nature-forest-management” systems were also mostly suggested by the optimization tool when carbon storage was an objective.

Temporal dynamics of carbon storage in a Mediterranean mountain scrubland managed by prescribed fire

Farmland abandonment and reduction of grazing activity, mainly in mountain areas with remote access and ageing population, have been contributing to shrub encroachment in such territories and, consequently, to increase fuel load available for triggering wildfires. Accordingly, it is necessary to use vegetation management practices in order to reduce wildfire risk, prescribed fire being one of the most common techniques used in the Mediterranean region. This research focused in the effects of a prescribed fire (PF) applied in Montesinho Natural Park (PNM), NE Portugal, on the temporal dynamics of carbon storage in mineral soil, litter layer (organic horizon), and shrub biomass. Before PF and thirty-six months after PF, aboveground shrub biomass was collected in areas of 1 m2 in 11 plots randomly distributed in the experimental shrub area. Also, in the same plots, litter thickness was measured and soil samples were collected before, two, six and thirty-six months after PF, in order to assess carbon concentration, bulk density and coarse elements content. Despite low to moderate fire intensity, carbon storage changes were observed in all compartments evaluated. Thirty-six months after PF, carbon storage in aboveground biomass of shrub species (7.4 Mg C ha−1) was roughly two-thirds of that recorded prior to PF, and in litter layer (1.6 Mg C ha−1) it was about half of that in the original situation (before PF). In contrast, the mineral soil showed a 10% carbon increase (6.4 Mg C ha−1). Based on the balance between losses (shrub species and litter layer) and gains (mineral soil), at the end of the monitoring period (36 months), there was an annual positive rate of carbon storage, equivalent to 0.2 Mg C ha−1 year−1. Even after anthropogenic disturbances, such as prescribed fire, shrub communities constitute important terrestrial carbon pools; hence, these ecosystems might play an important role in mitigating climate change.

Thinned northern German Scots pine forests have a low carbon storage and uptake potential in comparison to naturally developing beech forests

In Europe, production forests with conifers widely replace native broadleaf trees. In the Pleistocene lowlands of northern Germany, > 1.7 million hectares of pine forests (Pinus spp., mostly P. sylvestris) have replaced natural broadleaf forests. We compared aboveground biomass carbon (C) pools and net primary productivity (ANPP) of broadleaf forests with natural development (ND; mostly Fagus sylvatica or Quercus petraea forests; 146 years old on average) to nearby young pine forests (YP; 65 years old on average) and old pine forests (OP; > 90 years) in northern Germany. Study aims where (i) to estimate the aboveground biomass C loss resulting from forest transformation, (ii) to compare the ANPP of broadleaf and pine forests, and (iii) to identify the main factors causing differences in biomass C storage and ANPP between forest types. YP forests stored only half of the biomass C of the ND forests (means: 72 vs. 147 MgCha−1); OP stands exceeded YP stands only by ~20% (87 vs. 72 MgCha−1). The main factor driving the biomass C pool differences was tree species identity, while stand age was not influential. Mean ANPP was 1.1 MgCha−1year−1 higher in ND forests than in YP stands due to higher litter production, while wood production was similar. We conclude that large-scale forest conversion to Scots pine forests has decreased the aboveground biomass carbon storage by half and the C sequestration potential with aboveground productivity by ~25%; this effect must be assessed together with changes in soil organic carbon stocks.

Evaluation on Carbon Storage in Aboveground Biomass of Yang na at Plant Genetic Protection Area, Ubon Ratchathani Province

Evaluation on Carbon Storage in Aboveground Biomass of Yang na at Plant Genetic Protection Area, Ubon Ratchathani Province

Estructura, composición florística y almacenamiento de carbono en bosques nativos del páramo de Anaime, Tolima, Colombia

Los páramos tienen alta importancia ambiental por su alto endemismo, su regulación hídrica y su almacenamiento de carbono. En este trabajo se caracterizó la estructura y composición poblacional de la vegetación arbórea, se estimó el almacenamiento de carbono en biomasa aérea y el potencial de reducción de emisiones por deforestación, y se priorizó los tipos de bosques nativos en los esfuerzos de conservación en la Reserva Natural Semillas de Agua (RNSA) en el páramo de Anaime, Tolima, Colombia. En cada tipo de bosque (achaparrado, maduro y subpáramo), se establecieron nueve parcelas de muestreo de 10 x 15 m, en donde se midieron todos los individuos con un diámetro del tronco a la altura del pecho (dap) ≥ 10 cm. La biomasa aérea se estimó a través de un modelo alométrico multi-especie generado localmente. Las especies importantes, en términos de índice de valor de importancia y de almacenamiento de carbono, fueron Weinmannia auriculata y Miconia sp. El mayor almacenamiento de carbono se alcanzó en los bosques del subpáramo, seguido de los maduros y achaparrados (242 vs 147 vs 25 Mg/ha, respectivamente). Los bosques en la RNSA almacenan 3,2 Tg CO2e en biomasa aérea, de los cuales se podrían perder 0,2-0,5 Tg CO2e en 20 años con una deforestación anual de 0,78 y 0,28%, respectivamente. Estas reducciones de gases de efecto invernadero podrían ser comercializadas en un potencial proyecto REDD+, que ayuden a conservar estas áreas de bosque. Los bosques achaparrados y del subpáramo deberían ser priorizados en los esfuerzos de conservación debido a su diversidad, endemismo y a su gran cantidad de carbono en el caso de los bosques maduros.

Wood density is a sustainability indicator for the management of dry zone homegarden agroforests: Evidences from biodiversity–ecosystem function relationships

Abstract Recent studies have advanced our understanding regarding the niche complementarity and mass ratio effects on the ecosystem function, in both natural and experimental systems. However, biodiversity–ecosystem function (BEF) relationships may be fundamentally different across dense-wooded and light-wooded species, as they are clustered at two opposite extremes of the wood economics spectrum. Here we analyzed BEF relationships through mediations of functional dominance (i.e. community-weighted mean, CWM) and functional divergence (FDvar) of plant maximum height (H) while accounting for the effects of other characteristics of homegardens, across dense-wooded, light-wooded and all species, by using structural equation modelling (SEM) on 45 homegarden agroforestry systems in the dry zone of Sri Lanka. The dense-wooded SEM accounted for 69% variation in aboveground biomass through significant positive direct effects of CWM H (β = 0.51) and FDvar H (β = 0.20), and indirect effect of species diversity via FDvar H on aboveground biomass (β = 0.12). Although the light-wooded SEM accounted for 19% variation in aboveground biomass, the BEF relationships were non-significant. Regardless of SEMs, FDvar H but not CWM H was significantly positively related to species diversity. None of the BEF relationships was statistically significant when dense-wooded and light-wooded species were mixed. From a theoretical aspect, these positive BEF relationships are driven by both dominant and complementarity dense-wooded species. From a practical aspect, the positive BEF relationships support the feasibility of UN Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) initiative in studied agroforests, which aims to enhance carbon storage in aboveground biomass while conserving biodiversity. Hence, this study suggests that wood density is a potential sustainability indicator for better management of agroforest-ecosystem while driving positive BEF relationships.

Assessing the sensitivity of urban ecosystem service maps to input spatial data resolution and method choice

Ecosystem service (ES) mapping frequently uses secondary data and value-transfer methods to map services over broad extents at coarse resolutions, possibly causing poor prediction accuracy. Although ES map quality has received some recent attention in the literature, little is known about the accuracy of these maps in urban contexts or about the factors that influence this accuracy. To address this issue, we quantitatively compared and validated ES maps in a heterogeneous urban landscape to generate insight into ES map accuracy in these environments. Using aboveground biomass carbon storage as an example, we examined how input data resolution and assessment method affect the accuracy of urban ES maps. Two mapping methods were employed: (1) maps based on ecosystem components involved in carbon storage (trees and lawns) and (2) maps based on land-cover proxies and data at coarse and fine spatial resolutions. We compared carbon storage predicted by these methods to that estimated by using field-collected data to examine the accuracy of predictions and spatial variation therein. Different methods and data produced similar study area-wide estimates; however, the spatial distribution of estimates varied among methods. Estimates using ecosystem components agreed with the actual observations better than the proxy-based estimates, although map accuracy was improved by using higher resolution land-cover data. Thus, when study area-wide estimates suffice for decision making, proxy-based methods and coarse-resolution data should provide adequate assessments. Detailed ecosystem structure and composition data are needed when fine-resolution, spatially-explicit estimates are required.

Global patterns of aboveground carbon stock and sequestration in mangroves.

In order to contribute to understand the factors that control the provisioning of the ecosystem service of carbon storage by mangroves, data on carbon stock and sequestration in the aboveground biomass (AGB) from 73 articles were averaged and tested for the dependence on latitude, climatic parameters, physiographic types and age. Global means of carbon stock (78.0 ± 64.5 tC.ha-1) and sequestration (2.9 ± 2.2 tC.ha-1.yr-1) showed that mangroves are among the forest ecosystems with greater capacity of carbon storage in AGB per area. On the global scale, carbon stock increases toward the equator (R²=0.22) and is dependent on 13 climatic parameters, which can be integrated in the following predictive equation: Carbon Stock in AGB = -16.342 + (8.341 x Isothermality) + (0.021 x Annual Precipitation) [R²=0.34; p < 0.05]. It was shown that almost 70% of carbon stock variability is explained by age. Carbon stock and sequestration also vary according to physiographic types, indicating the importance of hydroperiod and edaphic parameters to the local variability of carbon stock. By demonstrating the contribution of local and regional-global factors to carbon stock, this study provides information to the forecast of the effects of future climate changes and local anthropogenic forcings on this ecosystem service.

An analysis of forest biomass changes using geospatial tools and ground survey data: a case study in Yok Don national park, Central Highlands of Vietnam

Vietnam conducts a national forest survey every five years using optical satellite imagery as Landsat, SPOT satellites and ground survey data. However, estimation of change in biomass due to change in forest types has not been of research interest despite of its importance in the face of climate change and applicability for REDD implementation. In this study, we used SPOT HRV satellite data of 2004, 2011 and ground survey data for analysis of changes in biomass of forest cover in Yok Don National Park, Central Highlands of Vietnam. This method has been effectively employed for mapping of land cover with overall classification accuracy of 84.30% to 86.63%. The results demonstrated that between 2004 and 2011, the biomass of Evergreen broad leaved rich forest decreased by 2.95 Megatons, biomass of the Evergreen broad leaved medium forest decreased by 0.09 Mega tons and biomass of the Dry open dipterocarps medium forest decreased 2.20 Mega tons. In that period, biomass of the Evergreen broad-leavedpoor forest increased by 0.02 Mega tons and biomass of the Dry open dipterocarps-poor forest increased by 0.91 Mega tons.References Bao Huy, 2008: Methodology for research on CO2 sequestration in natural forests to join the program of reducing emission from deforestation and degradation-REDD. Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development, MARD, 2008, pp. 1-10. Bhishma, P. et al., 2010: Forest carbon stock measurement-Guidelines for measuring carbon stocks in community-managed forest. Asia Network for Sustainable Agriculture and Bioresource (ANSAB), 79 pp. Brown, S., 1997. Estimating biomass and biomass change of tropical forests: a Primer. FAO Forestry paper–134.ISBN 92-5-103955-0. Brown, S., 2002: Measuring carbon in forests: current status and future challenges. Environmental Pollution, 116(3): 363-372.. Canh N. X. et al., 2009: Conservation planning and Sustainable Development of Yok Don National Park in 2010-2020,150pp. Chaiyo, U., Garivait, S., Wanthongchai, K., 2011: Carbon storage in Above-Ground Biomass of Tropical Deciduous Forest in Ratchaburi Province, Thailand. World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, pp. 636-641.. Chave, J., Andalo, C., Brown, S., Cairns, M.A. et al., 2005: Tree allometry and improved estimation of carbon stocks and balance in tropical forests. Oecologia Vol. 145, No. 1, pp. 87-99. Guide to the Kyoto Protocol to United Nations framework convention on climate change, 1998. Howarth, Wickware, 1981: Spatial analysis of land cover and land use in evaluating land degradation in Northwestern Al-Mafraq city, Jordan, pp. 55-62. IPCC, 2003: Good Practice Guidance for Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry. IPCC National Greenhouse Gas Inventories Programme Technical Support Unit. 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Forty years of forest measurements support steadily increasing aboveground biomass in a maturing,Quercus-dominant northeastern forest1

Abstract Repeated measurements of permanent plots in northeastern U.S. forests provide an opportunity to assess how stand-level changes impact carbon storage in aboveground biomass over time. We used 42 years of census data for >6000 individual trees in a 2.9- ha permanent plot at the Harvard Forest (Petersham, MA, USA) to determine how changes in stand age, structure, and species composition affect carbon storage in aboveground biomass in a Quercus-Acer forest. From 1969 to 2011, the biomass of live trees increased linearly (R2 = 0.99, p = 0.0002), from 150 Mg ha−1 to 268 Mg ha−1, confirming that this ca. 110-year-old stand is still in the aggradation phase of stand development. Over time, a higher proportion of the stand's biomass occurs in large trees. Quercus rubra L. (red oak) accounts for >80 percent of the increase in aboveground biomass due to the rapid growth of dominant stems and low canopy mortality rates. Changes in the biomass of live Acer rubrum L. (red maple) stagnated after 1991, in co...

Carbon Storage in Above-Ground Biomass of Tropical Deciduous Forest in Ratchaburi Province, Thailand

Carbon Storage in Above-Ground Biomass of Tropical Deciduous Forest in Ratchaburi Province, Thailand

Forests as carbon sinks--benefits and consequences

With their ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, many countries have established forests on previously non-forested land with the view of offsetting greenhouse gas emissions. While these forests indisputably result in increased carbon storage in above-ground biomass, consideration of other major implications is often neglected. Forest establishment results in changes in albedo and soil carbon storage, reduced runoff and downstream water supply, and effects on biodiversity. Such effects of forest establishment may be less desirable from environmental, economic and social perspectives. While there have been many studies of the impacts of forest establishment on individual aspects, policy makers need to be able to integrate the benefits and consequences to assist in making decisions on land management. Further, the relative magnitude of the effects of forestry needs to be considered in the context of elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide partial pressure and climate change resulting in increasing temperature and changes in the amount and distribution of rainfall. This introductory review highlights the major benefits and consequences of forest establishment and demonstrates progress in integrating across the services provided by forests. New modelling approaches are being developed that allow analysis of benefits, consequences and trade-offs to assist policy makers in decisions to manage the provision of multiple resources.

Effects of elevated CO2 and temperature on leaf characteristics, photosynthesis and carbon storage in aboveground biomass of a boreal bioenergy crop (Phalaris arundinacea L.) under varying water regimes

This work examined the effects of elevated CO2 and temperature and water regimes, alone and in interaction, on the leaf characteristics [leaf area (LA), specific leaf weight (SLW), leaf nitrogen content (NL) based on LA], photosynthesis (light-saturated net carbon fixation rate, Psat) and carbon storage in aboveground biomass of leaves (Cl) and stem (Cs) for a perennial reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea L., Finnish local cultivar). For this purpose, plants were grown under different water regimes (ranging from high to low soil moisture) in climate-controlled growth chambers under the elevated CO2 and/or temperature (following a factorial design) over a whole growing season (May–September in 2009). The results showed that the elevated temperature increased the leaf growth, photosynthesis and carbon storage of aboveground biomass the most in the early growing periods, compared with ambient temperature. However, the plant growth declined rapidly thereafter with a lower carbon storage at the end of growing season. This was related to the accelerated phenology regulation and consequent earlier growth senescence. Consequently, the elevation of CO2 increased the Psat, LA and SLW during the growing season, with a significant concurrent increase in the carbon storage in aboveground biomass. Low soil moisture decreased the Psat, leaf stomatal conductance, LA and carbon storage in above ground biomass compared with high and normal soil moisture. This water stress effect was the largest under the elevated temperature. The elevated CO2 partially mitigated the adverse effects of high temperature and low soil moisture. However, the combination of elevated temperature and CO2 did not significantly increase the carbon storage in aboveground biomass of the plants.

Mapping the Economic Costs and Benefits of Conservation

Resources for biodiversity conservation are severely limited, requiring strategic investment. Understanding both the economic benefits and costs of conserving ecosystems will help to allocate scarce dollars most efficiently. However, although cost-benefit analyses are common in many areas of policy, they are not typically used in conservation planning. We conducted a spatial evaluation of the costs and benefits of conservation for a landscape in the Atlantic forests of Paraguay. We considered five ecosystem services (i.e., sustainable bushmeat harvest, sustainable timber harvest, bioprospecting for pharmaceutical products, existence value, and carbon storage in aboveground biomass) and compared them to estimates of the opportunity costs of conservation. We found a high degree of spatial variability in both costs and benefits over this relatively small (~3,000 km2) landscape. Benefits exceeded costs in some areas, with carbon storage dominating the ecosystem service values and swamping opportunity costs. Other benefits associated with conservation were more modest and exceeded costs only in protected areas and indigenous reserves. We used this cost-benefit information to show that one potential corridor between two large forest patches had net benefits that were three times greater than two otherwise similar alternatives. Spatial cost-benefit analysis can powerfully inform conservation planning, even though the availability of relevant data may be limited, as was the case in our study area. It can help us understand the synergies between biodiversity conservation and economic development when the two are indeed aligned and to clearly understand the trade-offs when they are not.

Soil Carbon Cycling and Soil CO2Efflux in a Red Pine (Pinus densiflora) Stand

This study was conducted to evaluate forest carbon cycling and soil <TEX>$CO_2$</TEX> efflux rates in a 42-year-old pine (Pinus densiflora) stand located in Hamyang-gun, Korea. Aboveground and soil organic carbon storage, litterfall, litter decomposition, and soil <TEX>$CO_2$</TEX> efflux rates were measured for one year. Estimated aboveground biomass carbon storage and increment in this stand were <TEX>$3,250gC/m^2\;and\;156gC\;m^{-2}yr^{-1}$</TEX>, respectively. Soil organic carbon storage at the depth of 30 cm was <TEX>$10,260gC/m^2$</TEX> Mean organic carbon inputs by needle and total litterfall were <TEX>$176gC\;m^{-2}yr^{-1}\;and\;235gC\;m^{-2}yr^{-1}$</TEX>, respectively. Litter decomposition rates were faster in nne roots less than 2 mm diameter size (<TEX>$<220\;g\;kg^{-1}yr^{-1}$</TEX>) than in needle litter (<TEX>$<120\;g\;kg^{-1}yr^{-1}$</TEX>). Annual mean and total soil respiration rates were <TEX>$0.37g\;CO_2m^{-2}h^{-1}$</TEX> and <TEX>$2,732g\;CO_2m^{-2}yr^{-1}$</TEX> during the study period. A strong positive relationship existed between soil <TEX>$CO_2$</TEX> efflux and soil temperature (r=0.8149), while soil <TEX>$CO_2$</TEX> efflux responded negatively to soil pH (r=-0.3582).

Carbon storage, litterfall and soil CO2efflux of a larch(Larix leptolepis)stand

Abstract This study was carried out to evaluate soil carbon cycling of a 36‐year‐old larch (Larix leptolepis) stand in Korea. The aboveground and soil organic carbon storage, litterfall, and soil respiration rates were measured over two‐year periods. The estimated aboveground biomass carbon storage and increment were 4220 gC m-2 and 150 gC m−2 yr-1, respectively. Mean organic carbon inputs by needle and total litterfall were 118 gC m-2 yr-1 and 168 gC m-2 yr-1, respectively. The aboveground carbon increment of the stand was similar to the annual input of carbon from total litterfall. The soil respiration rates correlated exponentially with the soil temperature at a depth of 20 cm (R2 = 0.86). In addition, the exponential regression equation indicated a relatively strong positive relationship between the soil respiration rates and soil temperature, while there was no significant relationship between the soil respiration rates and the soil moisture content. The annual mean and total soil respiration rates were 0.40 g CO2 m-2 h-1 and 3010 g CO2 m-2 yr-1 over the two‐year study period, respectively.