Non-forest Land Research Articles

Identification of the Forest Cover Growth on Landscape Level from Aerial Laser Scanning Data

Aerial laser scanning technology has excellent potential in landscape management and forestry. Due to its specific characteristics, the application of this type of data is the subject of intensive research, with the search for new areas of application. This work aims to identify the boundaries of forest stands, and forest patches on non-forest land. The research objectives cover the diversity of conditions in the forest landscapes of Slovakia, with its high variability of tree species composition (coniferous, mixed, deciduous stands), age, height, and stand density. A semi-automatic procedure was designed and verified (consisting of the creation of a digital terrain model, a digital surface model, and the identification of peaks and contours of tree crowns), which allows after identification of homogeneous areas of forest stands and/or forest patches (areas covered with trees species canopy) with selected parameters (height, crown size, gap size), with high accuracy. The applicability of the proposed procedure increases the use of freely available ALS data (provided by the Office of Geodesy, Cartography, and Cadastre of the Slovak Republic) and freely distributable software tools (QGIS, CloudCompare).

Soil Quality Assessment of Several Kinds of Typical Artificial Forestlands in the Inner Mongolia Basin of the Yellow River

Located in the middle and upper parts of the Yellow River Basin, Qingshuihe County, Inner Mongolia, is a typical hilly and gully loess region and one of areas under the implementation of major ecological protection and restoration projects in the key ecological areas of Yellow River. Scientifically and accurately constructing a soil quality evaluation system for different types of artificial forest land and evaluating their soil quality are essential because they help optimize the structure of artificial forest land and improve the soil quality in the loess hilly area of Yellow River Basin. In this study, soil from four representative types of artificial forest land in the middle and upper reaches of the Yellow River Basin in Inner Mongolia was selected as the study object, with natural non-forest land as the control. Sixteen soil property indices in five classes, namely, soil texture, acid–base properties, moisture, pore, and nutrient, were screened using correlation analysis, minimum dataset (MDS), and principal component analysis methods, and an MDS of soil quality evaluation was constructed. Results showed that (1) the evaluation indices of artificial forest land soil quality based on the MDS included total potassium content, total phosphorus content, alkali-hydrolyzed nitrogen content, total nitrogen content, sand content, moisture content, and non-capillary porosity. (2) No significant differences were observed in the soil quality index among the MDS, total dataset, and significant dataset (SDS), all of which exhibited significant positive correlations. (3) The soil quality of the different types of forest land was sorted from high to low as follows: mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forests, larch forests, mixed arbor and shrub forests, Armeniaca sibirica forests, and natural non-forest land.

Wall-to-wall mapping of tree extent in the tropics with Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2

Remote sensing based assessments of tree cover and extent provide insight into global and local land use planning. However, there remains considerable uncertainty about the distribution of tree cover in drylands and in areas with non-forest land use. Here, we present a 10-m map of tree extent for 4.35 billion hectares in the tropics (-23.44° to 23.44° latitude) based on multitemporal composites of Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 analyzed with convolutional neural networks, from which we derive spatially aggregated tree cover data at a 70-m (0.49 ha) resolution. We identify 2719 million hectares of tropical land with ≥10% tree cover, including 680 million hectares in tropical drylands. We find that 52% of tropical cropland and 46% of tropical urban areas had ≥10% tree cover in 2020. Compared to previous datasets, we demonstrate improved ability to map tree extent in areas with high canopy cover heterogeneity and with open canopy cover, especially in drylands, urban areas, and on cropland. As such, this data is expected to enable improved monitoring of tree cover distributions at local scales.

Impacts of the Small-Tract Forestland Tax Program on Forestland Use in Oregon

Abstract Preferential tax programs for forest landowners are used to achieve land use–related environmental and social objectives. Nonindustrial landowners are likely to own forests near development boundaries, which may lead to a higher likelihood of land conversion from forests to alternative uses. This article answers the question of how preferential tax programs for small-tract forestland (STF) owners have influenced the conversion of forested lands in Oregon since 2005. We find that a 10% increase in STF program participation within a county (as measured by acreage enrolled) can lead to a conversion of 127 ac from wildland forest to mixed forest/agriculture since the prior forest inventory period. Compared with the default “Forestland” tax program, participation in the alternative STF tax program has had a smaller and statistically weaker effect on the number of acres converted to low-density residential use. However, hypothetical elimination of the STF tax program would increase enrollment in the default Forestland tax program, which was measured to have a greater effect on the conversion of wildland forest to low-density residential land. Hence, the results overall provide evidence that the STF program has achieved its objective of mitigating development pressures and reducing conversion of forestland to nonforest uses.

Combining interpolated maximum wind gust speed and forest vulnerability for rapid post-storm mapping of potential forest damage areas in Finland

Abstract In Finland, wind-induced forest damage is expected to increase in the future. Demand exists for timely and precise first-hand information about the main impact area of windstorms. Locating potential damage areas quickly is essential for effective operational planning of salvage loggings, aiming to reduce monetary losses of timber and risk for secondary damage caused by insects. This study presents an approach for mapping the potential damage areas immediately after a windstorm, by using high-resolution forest vulnerability data and information on the spatial distribution of maximum wind gust speed derived from weather station observations using kriging with external drift interpolation. The new method is evaluated by analyzing damage caused by nine major windstorms of the 2010s in Finland. Our results show that including roughness length information as an auxiliary variable in the interpolation improved the results and produced wind maps with more plausible structure and better separation between forested and non-forested land areas. The forest vulnerability data were most strongly linked to damage, whilst wind gust speed had weaker results. However, for future storms with unknown damage areas, we consider maximum wind gust speed still essential for defining the main impact area, whereas forest vulnerability data could then be used for more detailed damage predictions. Further advancements of wind interpolation approaches, preferably towards higher resolution and, if possible, based on a denser and more diverse observation network, is needed to fully exploit the potential of combined wind and forest vulnerability data. Albeit we recognize multiple uncertainties, room for improvements and benefits that additional data sources would bring, our study demonstrates a simple approach for rapid mapping of potential forest wind damage areas, which could be further developed into an operational tool.

Ресурсный потенциал медоносных растений степного Придонья

Melliferous lands comprise the categories of forest fund lands, where melliferous plants and plants that provide high pollen yield grow. Bees pollinating entomophilous plants are 6–10 times more beneficial to forest lands compared to the favours from productive honey flows. The research objectives included identifying the features of the ecological and biological characteristics of melliferous plants of the Fabacea family, specifying the onset, duration and intensity of flowering, determining the sugar content in the nectar of one flower and honey productivity in the steppe Don region. Registration plots were laid out by the route method for the assessment of melliferous resources and determination of the resource potential of forest lands. Necessary observations, registration work, mathematical and statistical data processing were carried out according to the generally accepted methods. The territory of the steppe Don region, where the forest fund lands of the Rostov region are located, has favorable weather conditions and a rich forage base for bees. Тhe honey potential of the studied resources is a dynamic indicator and is of interest both for forest beekeeping and for scientific research. We used the sums of effective temperatures to determine the flowering sequence and characteristics of melliferous plants. The dwarf Russian almond blossoms first among arboreal melliferous plants of the legume family, while the Japanese pagoda tree blossoms last in the middle of the summer honey flow period. Black locust forest stands (497 kg/ha), lands dominated by Japanese pagoda tree (484 kg/ha) and honey locust (245 kg/ha) have the highest honey productivity. The research results showed that the black locust plantations with a bioresource potential of 7111.29 ton in the eastern and central areas of the region are significant for honey flow on the forest fund lands. Forest lands with predominance of spring melliferous plants of boxthorn and dwarf Russian almond on non-forest lands of the forest fund provide a supporting honey flow with a bioresource potential of 2749.168 ton. The studies that were carried out are of practical importance and will allow determining the resource potential of forest lands for honey flow more accurately in the future. In case of a high level of forestry and beekeeping practices, even under adverse weather conditions during nectar harvesting, it will be possible to obtain a productive honey flow, while ensuring timely and effective pollination of forest plants.

Chemical properties of soil in forest and non-forest land use in Bangalore rural forest division, Karnataka

The study was conducted to know the variations in chemical properties of soil in forest and non-forest land uses in Bangalore-rural forest division, Karnataka. The soil samples were collected from 8 non-forest land uses and 6 forest land uses from three depths viz., 0-30, 30-60, and 60-90 cm. The results showed that non-forest land use soils recorded significantly higher mean values of pH (6.53), EC (0.21dSm-1), K (243.25 kgha-1), Mg (1.55 C mol p+ kg-1), Fe (21.31 ppm), whereas forest soils characterized by higher OC% (1.37), N (495.3 kgha-1), P (10.15 kgha-1), Ca (12.90 C mol p+ kg-1), S (77.32 mgkg-1), Mn (3.05), Zn (0.06 ppm), Cu (3.25 ppm) at surface layer. And in sub-surface layer, the non-forest land use showed higher mean values in pH (6.58), P (10.90 kgha-1), K (246.75 kgha-1), Mg (1.12±1.06 C mol p+ kg-1), Zn (0.08 ppm), whereas forest land use showed EC (0.21 dSm-1), OC % (1.71), N (614.9 kgha-1), Ca (13.85 C mol p+ kg-1), S (74.36 mgkg-1) Fe (22.95 ppm), Mn (3.05 ppm), Cu (2.15 ppm). At bottom layers the non-forest land use showed higher mean values in EC (0.23 dSm-1), P (7.96 kgha-1), K (187.25 kgha-1), Mg (1.76 C mol p+ kg-1), Mn (2.12 ppm) and Cu (2.6 ppm). Whereas forest land use showed pH (6.6), OC% (1.5), N (551 kgha-1), Ca (13.25 C mol p+ kg-1), S (41.4 mgkg-1), Fe (22.29 ppm), Zn (0.07 ppm). Thus, the chemical properties of soils varied with vegetation type, species composition and management practices.

Plant Community Degradation Inquiry and Ecological Restoration Design in South Lake Scenic Area of China

The most visited provincially administered park in Hanzhong City, the South Lake Scenic Area, is degrading the Masson Pine forest communities. Determining and repairing the landscape degradation and impacts on recreational value due to the degraded community structure is essential for restoring the environment of the southern Qinling Mountains. By evaluating the degree, trend, and pattern (DTP) of impacts, we identified the degradation status of the plant community in the South Lake Scenic Area in the past 20 years. We show that the scenic area has experienced an increase in the degradation of vegetation cover in the last 20 years. The area of degraded vegetation cover is significantly larger than the area of improvement, and the overall area is changing, with fewer stable areas. The area of reduced forest cover in the South Lake Scenic Area from 2000–2010 and 2010–2020 has been expanding, and the area of forest land transferred to nonforest land from 2010–2020 has been accelerating compared with 2000–2010; the landscape pattern index has decreased year over year, fragmentation has become serious, landscape connectivity is declining, woodland patches are subject to human disturbance, and patch shapes are simplifying. Based on theories of natural succession and moderate disturbance, the Miyawaki method and interlogging are used to promote plant community renewal and biodiversity restoration. This is intended to shorten the natural succession process in the scenic area and to rapidly restore the ecological foundation of the scenic area. Recovery will meet the aesthetic and ecological values of the South Lake Scenic Area.

Evaluation of Plant Growth and Potential of Carbon Storage in the Restored Mangrove of an Abandoned Pond in Lubuk Kertang, North Sumatra, Indonesia

Mangrove forest in Lubuk Kertang Village, West Brandan sub-district has been converted around 20 ha annually (1996–2016) into various non-forest land use. Rehabilitation can be a solution to restore the condition of the ecosystem so that it can resume its ecological and economic functions. This paper discusses the evaluation of mangrove rehabilitation carried out by planting 6000 propagules in December 2015 and 5000 seedlings in May 2016 with Rhizophora apiculata species in abandoned ponds. Monitoring was carried out every 6 months from 2016 to 2022. In the restored area, 11 true mangrove species and 3 associated mangrove species were found. The percentage of plants that survived after seven years was 69.42% for planting using propagules and 86.38% for planting with seedlings. The total biomass carbon stocks stored by 7-year-old plants using propagules was 51.18 Mg ha−1, while the carbon stored by planting using seedlings was 56.79 Mg ha−1. Soil carbon stocks at the planted site with propagules were 506.89 ± 250.74 MgC ha−1, and at the planted site with seedlings were 461.85 ± 102.23 MgC ha−1. The total ecosystem carbon stocks (including aboveground carbon) in the planted site using propagules were 558.07 MgC ha−1, while planting using seedlings were 518.64 MgC ha−1. The dataset and findings on the carbon storage evaluation of mangrove rehabilitation will be useful for blue carbon research community and policymakers in the context of the climate change mitigation strategy for Indonesia.

THE STABILIZED DUNES: A PILOT STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF ACACIA TORTILIS ON GROUND VEGETATION, FROM THAR DESERT, INDIA

In modern days, sand dune stabilization works are very common in desert areas globally. The purpose is multifaceted; developmental needs, soil moisture conservation works, and prevention of desert spread being the main among them. In the Indian state of Rajasthan, the same works have been ongoing for a long in the Thar desert, primarily by the forest department. This study was aimed as a non replicated administrative study, which has reflected on the possible correlation between the stabilization work by afforestation and gradual loss of native shrub species of desert ecosystem as found from the pilot sites. The preliminary findings of this study were then verified against previous research and findings in other arid regions of the world. Simple counting of standing tree and shrub species was done from 1 sq. m. sample plots of both forest department plantation sites and non-forest land areas. It was found that area with matured grown Acacia tortilis has less ground coverage than other areas. Arid ecosystem has unique survival adaptations, the fast growth of an introduced foreign species impacting the native ground cover can be due to multiple ecological reasons. A much broader replicated study is necessary to ascertain this fact and thereby take necessary measures for preserving both the desert ecosystem and enhance the sand stabilization works

Spatial distribution of 2019 forest and land fires in Indonesia

Forest and land fires in 2019 were recorded as major events with extensive impacts on various aspects in Indonesia. An evaluation of forest and land fires in 2019 is required to determine the distribution and pattern of fires to be a significant input in overcoming forest and land fires in the future. This study aimed to evaluate forest fires based on area distribution, land cover, and area functions. This study used hotspot maps, land cover maps and forest area maps in 2019 to analyze the spatial distribution of locations and types of land cover that were indicated to be burning. The 2019 Landsat 8 OLI satellite images were used to identify types of land cover related to fires. We found that forest and land fires in 2019 in Indonesia were mostly spread on non-forest land with the type of land cover of shrubs, swamp shrub, and plantations with an area function for other use. The five provinces with the most fire hotspots detected were Central Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, Jambi, Riau, and South Sumatera. Most of the fire areas in the provinces that are vulnerable to fires are on peatlands. It requires serious and sustainable efforts to increase productivity and land value to reduce the area of unmanaged land and increase supervision of plantation companies that do not have an adequate forest and land fire management system.

Functional Diversity of Soil Microorganisms and Influencing Factors in Three Typical Water-Conservation Forests in Danjiangkou Reservoir Area

As a key part of the forest ecosystem, soil microorganisms play extremely important roles in maintaining the ecological environment and the security of water quality in reservoir areas. However, it is not clear whether there are differences in the functional diversity of soil microorganisms in different types of water-conservation forests in reservoir areas, and which factors affect the functional diversity of soil microorganisms. In our study, the Biolog-Eco microplate technique was used to analyze the carbon source metabolic characteristics of soil microbial communities in three typical water-conservation forests and a non-forest land: Pinus massoniana-Quercus variabilis mixed forest (MF), Pinus massoniana forest (PF), Quercus variabilis forest (QF) and non-forest land (CK). The results showed that the average well color development (AWCD), the Shannon diversity index (SDI) and the richness index (S) of the three forest lands was significantly greater than that of the non-forest land (p < 0.05). The mean values of AWCD, SDI and S of the three forests had the same order (QF > PF > MF), but there was no significant difference among different types of forests. The microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) of QF and PF were higher than those of MF and CK, but the microbial biomass C/N ratio (MBC/MBN) was lower. The variance partitioning analysis (VPA) showed that 86.4% of the variation was explained by plant (community) diversity, soil physical and chemical properties and soil microbial biomass, which independently explained 10.0%, 28.9%, and 14.9% of the variation, respectively. The redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that total phosphorus (TP), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), total nitrogen (TN), number of plant species (Num) and alkali-hydro nitrogen (Wn) were the key factors affecting the functional diversity of soil microorganisms. This study confirmed that forest ecosystem is better than non-forest land in maintaining soil microbial function diversity. Moreover, Quercus variabilis forest may be a better stand type in maintaining the diversity of soil microbial functions in the study area.

ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКАЯ ОЦЕНКА ПРОЕКТНЫХ МЕР НАПРАВЛЕННЫХ НА СОКРАЩЕНИЕ ВЫБРОСОВ ПАРИКОВЫХ ГАЗОВ И УВЕЛИЧЕНИЕ ИХ ПОГЛОЩЕНИЯ В ЛЕСАХ РОССИИ

Forest climate projects have very strict criteria for successful verification, recognition, and these criteria are additionality, permanence and leakage control. The presence of these criteria creates serious problems for the effective implementation of forest climate projects on the lands of the forest fund, that is, where the forest exists and where it grows on its own. The article provides a quantitative assessment of the potential of project activities (forest climate projects) aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing carbon sequestration in forests according to the forms of maintaining the state forest registry. To form the most general picture of areas suitable for the implementation of forest-climatic projects, we grouped forest and non-forest lands that are most suitable for project activities and allow implementing the principles of climate projects by types of project activities. As a result of the study, it was proved that climate projects designed for afforestation, organization of intact forest areas and reforestation have significant potential. It has been established that the diversity of conditions, land categories, and the protection of forests in the Russian Federation create prerequisites for the implementation of various climate projects and adaptation measures in the country's forest fund. The implementation of these additional targeted climate-oriented activities will ensure, in the long term, the low-carbon development of forestry in regional systems, which makes it possible to evaluate the prospects for implementation positively and creates conditions for the growth of their investment attractiveness.

Rethinking the focus on forest fires in federal wildland fire management: Landscape patterns and trends of non-forest and forest burned area

For most of the 20th century and beyond, national wildland fire policies concerning fire suppression and fuels management have primarily focused on forested lands. Using summary statistics and landscape metrics, wildfire spatial patterns and trends for non-forest and forest burned area over the past two decades were examined across the U.S, and federal agency jurisdictions. This study found that wildfires burned more area of non-forest lands than forest lands at the scale of the conterminous and western U.S. and the Department of Interior (DOI). In an agency comparison, 74% of DOI burned area occurred on non-forest lands and 78% of U.S. Forest Service burned area occurred on forested lands. Landscape metrics revealed key differences between forest and non-forest fire patterns and trends in total burned area, burned patch size, distribution, and aggregation over time across the western U.S. Opposite fire patterns emerged between non-forest and forest burns when analyzed at the scale of federal agency jurisdictions. In addition, a fire regime departure analysis comparing current large fire probability with historic fire trends identified certain vegetation types and locations experiencing more fire than historically. These patterns were especially pronounced for cold desert shrublands, such as sagebrush where increases in annual area burned, and fire frequency, size, and juxtaposition have resulted in substantial losses over a twenty-year period. The emerging non-forest fire patterns are primarily due to the rapid expansion of non-native invasive grasses that increase fuel connectivity and fire spread. These invasions promote uncharacteristic frequent fire and loss of native ecosystems at large-scales, accelerating the need to place greater focus on managing invasive species in wildland fire management. Results can be used to inform wildfire management and policy aimed at reducing uncharacteristic wildfire processes and patterns for both non-forest and forest ecosystems as well as identify differing management strategies needed to address the unique wildfire issues each federal agency faces.

Estimation and application of spatial distribution of carbon storage in Wushe reservoir watershed based on environmental indicators in Taiwan

The forest land carbon storage assessment model proposed in this study belongs to the IPPC Tier-3 method. The model operates through a conceptual model that includes environmental parameters such as Photosynthesis Index (NDVI), Soil Depth Index (TWI) and Canopy Height Model (CHM). The model is verified by the IPPC Tier-2 method, which can effectively construct the distribution of watershed-scale forest carbon stock. The spatial distribution of carbon fluxes can be obtained from the carbon stock information of the two periods. The carbon flux index can be used to describe the distribution of carbon stocks and carbon emissions in the watershed, and then the location of negative carbon flux (vegetation degradation) can be extracted as a value-added application of vegetation restoration hotspots. The accuracy of the model estimation in forest land verification is high, reaching a significant level of 0.1%, which can faithfully reflect the carbon stock of forest land. However, in non-forest lands, carbon stock estimates tend to exhibit carbon storage potential due to land-use disturbances. A combination of conceptual models and environmental indicators is of great help in assessing watershed carbon stocks and fluxes.

Forest Degradation and Deforestation in Nigeria; Poverty Link

Forests are the most diverse terrestrial ecosystems, housing a quite large majority of the world’s terrestrial species. It provides many social, economic, and environmental benefits. In addition to timber and paper products, forests provide wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities, it prevents soil erosion and flooding, provides clean air and water as well. Degradation and Deforestation occurs when changes happens which affects the characteristics of a forest negatively in such a way that the value and production of its goods and services decline or it is converted to an alternative permanent non-forested land use such as agriculture, grazing or urban development. These changes are caused by both direct and indirect causes with direct causes being human activities e.g agricultural expansion, road construction etc while indirect causes are economic growth etc. A positive correlation between the level of poverty and utilization of forest resources which leads to deforestation and exploitations of forest resources has been established, with an estimation of more than 90% of the 1.2 billion people living in extreme poverty dependence on forests for some part of their livelihood. Hence, degradation and loss of forests pose a grave threat to biodiversity. The result of degradation and deforestation include flooding, reduction in forest carbon storage, climate change etc. some perceived way forward to tackling this are poverty reduction programs, addressing land tenure matters , forest monitoring mechanism amongst others.

РАСЧЕТНЫЕ ОЦЕНКИ ВЫБРОСОВ ЧЕРНОГО УГЛЕРОДА ОТ ПРИОРИТЕТНЫХ КАТЕГОРИЙ ИСТОЧНИКОВ В РОССИИ

Black carbon is commonly considered as a short-lived climate forcer, the relatively short lifetime of which can cause climatic effects at the regional level. The lack of mandatory reporting on black carbon emissions and a unified methodology for black carbon inventory leads to high uncertainty of existing estimates of black carbon emissions in Russia. The estimates of emissions from priority source categories are provided in the present paper. According to the estimates, averaged black carbon emissions for the period of 2010-2020 from intentional fuel combustion at anthropogenic sources in Russia, including fuel combustion at energy and industrial enterprises, small and domestic combustion, transport, hydrocarbon flaring, are 100 *103 t per year, and those from open combustion sources on non-forest lands are 10 *103 t per year. Emissions from forest fires have the greatest interannual variability and vary from 100 to 300*103 t of black carbon per year.

Analysis of forest cover dynamics in Belarus based on remote sensing data

An analysis of the forest vegetation cover dynamics in Belarus based on the integration of satellite cartographic products and remote sensing data is presented in the article. Currently, the stable forest cover occupies 7209.0 thousand hectares (75.8 %); the forests formed on the previously non-forest lands – 1459.5 thousand hectares (14.7 %). The loss of forests amounted to 1569.3 thousand hectares for the period 1985–2020. For the period 2016–2020, the average annual deforestation area was 83.4 thousand ha/year, or 2.3 times higher than the average one for 1985–2015. The largest forest loss areas were in 2016–2018. Compared to the data of the National Statistical Committee for 2020, the difference with the actual area of the forest-covered land was 664.9 thousand hectares (7.4 % discrepancy). The area of the forested land according to the remote sensing data is 8999.3 thousand hectares, the forest cover is 43.3 %. The proposed approach to analyzing the forest vegetation changes based on remote sensing data is a high-quality and cost-effective information support for managerial decisions on the forest use.

Spatiotemporal dynamics of forest ecosystem carbon budget in Guizhou: customisation and application of the CBM-CFS3 model for China

BackgroundCountries seeking to mitigate climate change through forests require suitable modelling approaches to predict carbon (C) budget dynamics in forests and their responses to disturbance and management. The Carbon Budget Model of the Canadian Forest Sector (CBM-CFS3) is a feasible and comprehensive tool for simulating forest C stock dynamics across broad levels, but discrepancies remain to be addressed in China. Taking Guizhou as the case study, we customised the CBM-CFS3 model according to China’s context, including the modification of aboveground biomass C stock algorithm, addition of C budget accounting for bamboo forests, economic forests, and shrub forests, improvement of non-forest land belowground slow dead organic matter (DOM) pool initialisation, and other model settings.ResultsThe adequate linear relationship between the estimated and measured C densities (R2 = 0.967, P < 0.0001, slope = 0.904) in the model validation demonstrated the high accuracy and reliability of our customised model. We further simulated the spatiotemporal dynamics of forest C stocks and disturbance impacts in Guizhou for the period 1990–2016 using our customised model. Results shows that the total ecosystem C stock and C density, and C stocks in biomass, litter, dead wood, and soil in Guizhou increased continuously and significantly, while the soil C density decreased over the whole period, which could be attributed to deforestation history and climate change. The total ecosystem C stock increased from 1220 Tg C in 1990 to 1684 Tg C in 2016 at a rate of 18 Tg C yr−1, with significant enhancement in most areas, especially in the south and northwest. The total decrease in ecosystem C stock and C expenditure caused by disturbances reached 97.6 Tg C and 120.9 Tg C, respectively, but both represented significant decreasing trends owing to the decline of disturbed forest area during 1990–2016. Regeneration logging, deforestation for agriculture, and harvest logging caused the largest C stock decrease and C expenditure, while afforestation and natural expansion of forest contributed the largest increases in C stock.ConclusionsThe forests in Guizhou were a net carbon sink under large-scale afforestation throughout the study period; Our customised CBM-CFS3 model can serve as a more effective and accurate method for estimating forest C stock and disturbance impacts in China and further enlightens model customisation to other areas.

Carbon and precursor gases emission from forest and non-forest land sources in West Africa

Carbon and precursor gases emission from forest and non-forest land sources in West Africa