Tree Biomass Carbon Stocks Research Articles

The distribution of tree biomass carbon within the Pacific Coastal Temperate Rainforest, a disproportionally carbon dense forest

Spatially explicit global estimates of forest carbon storage are typically coarsely scaled. While useful, these estimates do not account for the variability and distribution of carbon at management scales. We asked how climate, topography, and disturbance regimes interact across and within geopolitical boundaries to influence tree biomass carbon, using the perhumid region of the Pacific Coastal Temperate Rainforest, an infrequently disturbed carbon dense landscape, as a test case. We leveraged permanent sample plots in southeast Alaska and coastal British Columbia and used multiple quantile regression forests and generalized linear models to estimate tree biomass carbon stocks and the effects of topography, climate, and disturbance regimes. We estimate tree biomass carbon stocks are either 211 (SD = 163) Mg C ha−1 or 218 (SD = 169) Mg C ha−1. Natural disturbance regimes had no correlation with tree biomass but logging decreased tree biomass carbon and the effect diminished with increasing time since logging. Despite accounting for 0.3% of global forest area, this forest stores between 0.63% and 1.07% of global aboveground forest carbon as aboveground live tree biomass. The disparate impact of logging and natural disturbance regimes on tree biomass carbon suggests a mismatch between current forest management and disturbance history.

Tree carbon stock analysis in education forest KHDTK Wanadipa UNDIP, Semarang

Global warming occurs due to increased gases from human activity. Efforts that can be made to minimize global warming are through the forestry sector. Trees play an ecological role, namely as carbon sinks and biomass storage throughout the plant body. The purpose of this study was to analyze the estimated value of carbon stocks in tree biomass in the Special Purposes Forest Area (SPFA) Wanadipa UNDIP Semarang Regency. The sampling method used for measuring tree biomass is the non-destructive method. The non-destructive method is a method that is carried out without destroying or taking all parts of the plant. Data analysis used was the calculation of tree biomass and carbon stocks, and statistical tests of the effect of tree diameter and tree height on carbon stocks in tree biomass. The research station that has the highest carbon stock value is the conservation block of 213,621.25 kg/ha or 213.62 tons/ha. The species that have the highest carbon stock value are Tectona grandis (Jati) and Swietenia mahagoni (Mahoni) in the research block. The amount of carbon that is increasing in the atmosphere at this time must be balanced with the amount of absorption, one of which is by conserving forests, namely through regular tree planting and paying attention to their regeneration, so that trees in carrying out their ecological role can be maintained.

Fungal community composition predicts forest carbon storage at a continental scale.

Forest soils harbor hyper-diverse microbial communities which fundamentally regulate carbon and nutrient cycling across the globe. Directly testing hypotheses on how microbiome diversity is linked to forest carbon storage has been difficult, due to a lack of paired data on microbiome diversity and in situ observations of forest carbon accumulation and storage. Here, we investigated the relationship between soil microbiomes and forest carbon across 238 forest inventory plots spanning 15 European countries. We show that the composition and diversity of fungal, but not bacterial, species is tightly coupled to both forest biotic conditions and a seven-fold variation in tree growth rates and biomass carbon stocks when controlling for the effects of dominant tree type, climate, and other environmental factors. This linkage is particularly strong for symbiotic endophytic and ectomycorrhizal fungi known to directly facilitate tree growth. Since tree growth rates in this system are closely and positively correlated with belowground soil carbon stocks, we conclude that fungal composition is a strong predictor of overall forest carbon storage across the European continent.

Effects of Drainage on Carbon Stock in Hemiboreal Forests: Insights from a 54-Year Study

In the Northern Hemisphere, forests play an important role in carbon storage. During the past few decades in the eastern Baltic and Nordic regions, forest drainage has been a common occurrence, which also has an effect on carbon stock. Most of the studies on this issue were carried out in boreal zones and were focused on short-term effects. Thus, our aim was to evaluate the long-term (after 54 years) effect of drainage on carbon stock (CS) changes in organic soil (Fibric histosols) in hemiboreal forests. Three forest types were selected in drained (Myrtillosa turf. mel (Mmel)) and undrained (Caricoso–phragmitosa (CP) and Sphagnosa (Sph)) parts of the same area. Surface level changes, soil penetration resistance, and soil and tree biomass carbon stock were assessed to evaluate the drainage effect. Drainage caused an average surface level drop of 25 cm, but did not deplete the soil carbon pool, resulting in significantly and substantially higher (2 to 6 times) tree biomass carbon stock. The drainage of organic soils in managed wet forests leads to an increased long-term contribution to climate change mitigation, thus such areas should be established or maintained in conjunction with areas that maximize other ecosystem services to ensure the sustainability of forest landscapes.

Toxic Metal Levels in Forest Soils Caused by Industrialization and Impacts on Tree Biomass Carbon Stock

Toxic Metal Levels in Forest Soils Caused by Industrialization and Impacts on Tree Biomass Carbon Stock

Changes in Organic Carbon Stock in Soil and Whole Tree Biomass in Afforested Areas in Latvia.

This study investigates the soil organic carbon (SOC) and whole tree biomass carbon (C), soil bulk density (BD) as well as changes in these parameters in afforested areas in Latvia. The study covered 24 research sites in afforested areas-juvenile forest stands dominated by Scots pine, Norway spruce and Silver birch. The initial measurements were conducted in 2012 and repeated in 2021. The results show that afforestation mostly leads to a general decrease in soil BD and SOC stock in 0-40 cm soil layer and an increase in C stock in tree biomass across afforested areas with various tree species, soil types, and former land uses. The physical and chemical properties of the soil could explain the differences in changes in soil BD and SOC caused by afforestation, as well as the impact of past land use may have persisted. When comparing the changes in SOC stock with the increase in C stock in tree biomass due to afforestation, taking into account the decrease in soil BD and the resulting elevation of soil surface level, the afforested areas at juvenile development stage can be considered a net C sink.

Estimation of tree biomass and carbon stock in the Tangkoko Nature Reserve, North Sulawesi

The objective of this study is to tree biomass and forest carbon stocks contained in the Tangkoko Nature Reserve (TNR) of North Sulawesi. Phylogenetic diversity was analysed based on tree species composition weighted by aboveground biomass. A stratified systematic sampling was used in the study across transect lines. Field measurements follow the method described in the SNI 7724:2019 on ground-based forest carbon accounting. Based on allometric approach, this study produces a quantity of 255.45 Mg.ha−1 of total biomass estimation consisting of 201.14 Mg.ha−1 AGB and 54.31 Mg.ha−1 BGB. A standard approach of C-stock calculation (i.e. 47% of tree biomass and 50% of soil organic biomass) results in quantities of 94.53 and 27.15 Mg.ha−1 respectively). The importance of species traits for biomass estimation should be considered by initiatives in reforestation for carbon offsetting.

Silvopastoral systems and remnant forests enhance carbon storage in livestock-dominated landscapes in Mexico

A large area of the terrestrial land surface is used for livestock grazing. Trees on grazing lands provide and can enhance multiple ecosystem services such as provisioning, cultural and regulating, that include carbon sequestration. In this study, we assessed the above- and belowground carbon stocks across six different land-uses in livestock-dominated landscapes of Mexico. We measured tree biomass and soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks in fodder banks, live fences, pasturelands with dispersed trees, secondary forests, and primary forests from three different geographical regions and compared them with conventional open pasturelands respectively. We also calculated tree diversity indices for each land-use and their similarity with native primary forests. The aboveground woody biomass stocks differed significantly between land-uses and followed the gradient from less diverse conventional open pasturelands to silvopastoral systems and ecologically complex primary forests. The SOC stocks showed a differential response to the land-use gradient dependent on the study region. Multivariate analyses showed that woody biomass, fine root biomass, and SOC concentrations were positively related, while land-use history and soil bulk density showed an inverse relationship to these variables. Silvopastoral systems and forest remnants stored 27–163% more carbon compared to open pasturelands. Our results demonstrate the importance of promoting appropriate silvopastoral systems and conserving forest remnants within livestock-dominated landscapes as a land-based carbon mitigation strategy. Furthermore, our findings also have important implications to help better manage livestock-dominated landscapes and minimize pressures on natural protected areas and biodiversity in the hotspots of deforestation for grassland expansion.

Tree diversity and biomass carbon stock analysis along altitudinal gradients in coffee-based agroforestry system of Western Ethiopia

Tree diversity and biomass carbon stock analysis along altitudinal gradients in coffee-based agroforestry system of Western Ethiopia

Old-Growth Coniferous Stands on Fertile Drained Organic Soil: First Results of Tree Biomass and Deadwood Carbon Stocks in Hemiboreal Latvia

Organic soils store a large amount of carbon stock, but they are also a large source of greenhouse gas emissions in a forest. Results of previous studies do not provide whole-country representative data of carbon stock in drained fertile organic soil forests in Europe, as the effects of stand age and dominant tree species are significant. Moreover, the growing role of old-growth stands has triggered interest in empirical data about drained organic soils. These data might serve as a reference of theoretical carbon carrying capacity that could be achieved in hemiboreal Latvia. We aimed to characterize tree biomass and deadwood carbon pools in coniferous old-growth stands on fertile, drained organic soils. Seven old-growth Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and Norway spruce (Picea abies) dominated stands (131–174 years) were measured. Both groups of stands had similar carbon stocks, reaching 167 and 154 t C ha−1 in tree biomass and 11 and 10 t C ha−1 in deadwood, respectively. A large variation in deadwood carbon storage was found across sample plots, ranging from 0.6 to 26.6 t C ha−1. Dead standing trees and downed logs store a great share of the total deadwood carbon, 5 and 4 t C ha−1, respectively. Significantly less carbon was stored in dead standing trees with broken tops (1 t C ha−1). Further assessment of soil carbon stock and fluxes is ongoing to reduce uncertainty in the soil carbon evaluation of old-growth stands in the context of climate change mitigation targets in a hemiboreal region.

Land Use Increases the Correlation between Tree Cover and Biomass Carbon Stocks in the Global Tropics

Tree cover (TC) and biomass carbon stocks (CS) are key parameters for characterizing vegetation and are indispensable for assessing the role of terrestrial ecosystems in the global climate system. Land use, through land cover change and land management, affects both parameters. In this study, we quantify the empirical relationship between TC and CS and demonstrate the impacts of land use by combining spatially explicit estimates of TC and CS in actual and potential vegetation (i.e., in the hypothetical absence of land use) across the global tropics (~23.4° N to 23.4° S). We find that land use strongly alters both TC and CS, with stronger effects on CS than on TC across tropical biomes, especially in tropical moist forests. In comparison to the TC-CS correlation observed in the potential vegetation (biome-level R based on tropical ecozones = 0.56–0.90), land use strongly increases this correlation (biome-level R based on tropical ecozones = 0.87–0.94) in the actual vegetation. Increased correlations are not only the effects of land cover change. We additionally identify land management impacts in closed forests, which cause CS reductions. Our large-scale assessment of the TC-CS relationship can inform upcoming remote sensing efforts to map ecosystem structure in high spatio-temporal detail and highlights the need for an explicit focus on land management impacts in the tropics.

Land use increases the correlation between tree cover and biomass carbon stocks in the global tropics

Land use increases the correlation between tree cover and biomass carbon stocks in the global tropics

High aboveground carbon stock of African tropical montane forests.

Tropical forests store 40-50per cent of terrestrial vegetation carbon1. However, spatial variations in aboveground live tree biomass carbon (AGC) stocks remain poorly understood, in particular in tropical montane forests2. Owing to climatic and soil changes with increasing elevation3, AGC stocks are lower in tropical montane forests compared with lowland forests2. Here we assemble and analyse a dataset of structurally intact old-growth forests (AfriMont) spanning 44 montane sites in 12 African countries. We find that montane sites in the AfriMont plot network have a mean AGC stock of 149.4megagrams of carbon per hectare (95% confidence interval 137.1-164.2), which is comparable to lowland forests in the African Tropical Rainforest Observation Network4 and about 70per cent and 32per cent higher than averages from plot networks in montane2,5,6 and lowland7 forests in the Neotropics, respectively. Notably, our results are two-thirds higher than the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change default values for these forests in Africa8. We find that the low stem density and high abundance of large trees of African lowland forests4 is mirrored in the montane forests sampled. This carbon store is endangered: we estimate that 0.8 million hectares of old-growth African montane forest have been lost since 2000. We provide country-specific montane forest AGC stock estimates modelled from our plot network to helpto guide forest conservation and reforestation interventions. Our findings highlight the need for conserving these biodiverse9,10 and carbon-rich ecosystems.

Two large-scale forest scenario modelling approaches for reporting CO2 removal: a comparison for the Romanian forests

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.

Impact of harvesting methods and forest floor displacement on nutrient stock of Scots pine ecosystems in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey.

Concern about the negative effects of logging residue extraction on the sustainability of forest ecosystems has been rising recently. Tree residues, including leaves, branches, bark and roots, left in the forest after logging may supply most of the nutrients for tree growth. The aim of this study was to (i) determine the carbon and nutrient stocks in different components and (ii) model the carbon and nutrient stocks in tree biomass of a mature Scots pine forest. The study site was located on the Turkmen mountain range in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey. In sample plots, stand measurements were made, and samples collected from trees, soil and the forest floor for analysis of carbon and nutrients and the stock of each nutrient per unit area were calculated. Data were analysed using analysis of variance and regression analysis. Significant differences were found in carbon and nutrient concentrations and stocks between ecosystem components. C, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Cu and Mn stocks were higher in wood; the N stock was higher in needles, and P, K, S and Zn stocks were higher in roots. In the ecosystem, trees had the highest C stock; the soil had the highest N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Cu, Zn and Mn stocks, and the forest floor had the highest Fe and S stocks. Therefore, it is critical that the forest floor is protected as it is an important element of the ecosystem nutrient cycle and source of Fe and S stocks. Maximum attention should be paid to leaving behind needles, bark, roots and thin branches with low economic value to minimise carbon and nutrient loss in the nutrient-limited forests. Equations predicting carbon and nutrient stocks through stem volume can be used for estimation of nutrient loss due to biomass removed from the system through interventions, contributing to sustainable forest management.

Tree diversity and biomass carbon stock along an altitudinal gradient in old-growth secondary semi-evergreen forests in North East India

Tree diversity and biomass carbon stock along an altitudinal gradient in old-growth secondary semi-evergreen forests in North East India

Tree diversity, soil organic carbon lability and ecosystem carbon storage under a fallow age chronosequence in North East India

Shifting cultivation, the oldest farming system of the world and is the dominant land use in mountainous regions of South and Southeast Asia. North-East India (NEI) region, one of the world's biodiversity hotspots, covers 17.2 million ha of land under forests, constituting ~25% of India's total forest area. The population-driven abrupt decline of the fallow period's duration has aggravated soil erosion, depletion of nutrients, decreased productivity, reduced biodiversity, and weakening of essential ecosystem services. Therefore, the present research aims to explore whether the duration of the fallow period of up to 20-years can restore diversity of tree species, biomass carbon, and ecosystem carbon stock equivalent to those under natural forests. Based on the accessibility and availability of the fallow stands, three categories were selected for the study (1–2, 5–8, and 15–20 years), and these were replicated eight times for each age group. While the 20-years of fallow increased tree diversity, it was still 22% lower than that of the natural forest. Similarly, a 2.7-fold increase in biomass carbon storage was observed with an increase in the fallow period from 5–8-years (33.4 Mg ha −1 ) to 15–20-years (92.9 Mg ha −1 ), yet the latter was 40% lower than that under the natural forests. The very labile and labile carbon stocks decreased with increase in the fallow period. In contrast, the less labile and non-labile carbon stocks increased with increase in the fallow age. Because of the absence of a long fallow management system in the region, and to minimize the risks of ecosystem carbon degradation, adopting an integrated approach is recommended to enhance the ecological integrity of the degraded lands under shifting cultivation while also improving the livelihood of the shifting cultivators. • Shifting cultivation dominates tropical to sub-tropical forest regions in North East India. • Shifting cultivation is a major driver of ecosystem C loss. • The 15-20-year-old fallow had more even distribution of tree species. • SOC: ecosystem C ratio was the highest under 1–2-year fallow. • 15–20-year fallow had 23% lower ecosystem C storage than natural forest.

Forests, Farms, and Fallows: The Dynamics of Tree Cover Transition in the Southern Part of the Uluguru Mountains, Tanzania

Forests and woodlands remain under threat in tropical Africa due to excessive exploitation and inadequate management interventions, and the isolated success stories of tree retention and tree cover transition on African agricultural land are less well documented. In this study, we characterize the status of tree cover in a landscape that contains forest patches, fallows, and farms in the southern part of Uluguru Mountains. We aimed to unveil the practices of traditional tree fallow system which is socially acceptable in local settings and how it provides a buffering effects to minimize forest disturbances and thus represents an important step towards tree cover transition. We assessed land cover dynamics for the period of 1995 to 2020 and compared tree stocking for forest patches, fallows, and farms. We found that tree biomass carbon stocks were 56 ± 5 t/ha in forest patches, 33 ± 7 t/ha in fallows, and 9 ± 2 t/ha on farms. In terms of land cover, farms shrank at intensifying rates over time for the entire assessment period of 1995–2020. Forest cover decreased from 1995–2014, with the reduction rate slowing from 2007–2014 and the trend reversing from 2014–2020, such that forest cover showed a net increase across the entire study period. Fallow consistently and progressively increased from 1995–2020. We conclude that traditional tree fallows in the study site remain a significant element of land management practice among communities, and there appears to be a trend towards intensified tree-based farming. The gains in fallowed land represent an embracing of a traditional land management system that supports rotational and alternate uses of cropping space as well as providing a buffering effect to limit over-exploitation of forests. In order to maximize tree cover and carbon stocks in the farm landscape, this well-known traditional tree fallow system can be further optimized through the incorporation of additional innovations.

Tree biomass and soil carbon stocks of a mangrove ecosystem on the Egyptian-African Red Sea coast

Mangroves are key ecosystems in strategies addressing the mitigation of climate change through carbon storage in several countries around the world. The main objective of this study is to quantify the carbon storage (above- and below-ground) in the biomass and sediment of mangrove forests (Avicennia marina and Rhizophora mucronata), as well as to estimate the carbon sequestration potential in the Gebel Elba Protected Area along the Egyptian–African Red Sea Coast. The mean recorded soil bulk density in both mangrove species was 1.16 g cm–3, while the recorded mean soil organic carbon (SOC) content was 34.95 g C kg–1. The total mean SOC content was statistically higher in A. marina stands (39.66 g C kg–1) than in R. mucronata stands (33.15 g C kg–1 ). The total mean SOC density for A. marina and R. mucronata amounts to 40.60 kg C m–3. We recorded the carbon sequestration rate of mangrove forests in Egypt as 11.36 g C m–2 year–1 and the total carbon sequestration potential as 5.97 Gg C year–1. The average single tree biomass was notably highly variable between different mangrove species and sites, with a total average tree biomass of 164.8 and 43.7 kg tree–1 for A. marina and R. mucronata, respectively. The results show that the average total tree carbon content is 74.3 and 18.0 kg tree–1 for A. marina and R. mucronata, respectively. While the recorded tree below-ground biomass was 54.1 and 32.6 kg tree–1, and above-ground biomass was 110.7 and 11.1 kg tree–1 for A. marina and R. mucronata, respectively. The recorded average biomass per hectare of mangrove was 74997.1 and 22536.8 kg for A. marina and R. mucronata, respectively. Moreover, the average total tree carbon content per hectare was 33782.3 and 9304.7 kg for A. marina and R. mucronata, respectively. However, for Egypt mangroves (525 ha), the total organic carbon content amounts to 17.73 Gg C for biomass and 5.97 Gg C year–1 for soil, with total of 23.7 Gg C of organic carbon content storage in the mangrove ecosystem in Egypt.

Carbon and Nitrogen Stocks in Three Types of Larix gmelinii Forests in Daxing’an Mountains, Northeast China

Studying carbon and nitrogen stocks in different types of larch forest ecosystems is of great significance for assessing the carbon sink capacity and nitrogen level in larch forests. To evaluate the effects of the differences of forest type on the carbon and nitrogen stock capacity of the larch forest ecosystem, we selected three typical types of larch forest ecosystems in the northern part of Daxing’an Mountains, which were the Rhododendron simsii-Larix gmelinii forest (RL), Ledum palustre-Larix gmelinii forest (LL) and Sphagnum-Bryum-Ledum palustre-Larix gmelinii forest (SLL), to determine the carbon and nitrogen stocks in the vegetation (trees and understories), litter and soil. Results showed that there were significant differences in carbon and nitrogen stocks among the three types of larch forest ecosystems, showing a sequence of SLL (288.01 Mg·ha−1 and 25.19 Mg·ha−1) > LL (176.52 Mg·ha−1 and 14.85 Mg·ha−1) > RL (153.93 Mg·ha−1 and 10.00 Mg·ha−1) (P < 0.05). The largest proportions of carbon and nitrogen stocks were found in soils, accounting for 83.20%, 72.89% and 64.61% of carbon stocks and 98.61%, 97.58% and 96.00% of nitrogen stocks in the SLL, LL and RL, respectively. Also, it was found that significant differences among the three types of larch forest ecosystems in terms of soil carbon and nitrogen stocks (SLL > LL > RL) (P < 0.05) were the primary reasons for the differences in the ecosystem carbon and nitrogen stocks. More than 79% of soil carbon and 51% of soil nitrogen at a depth of 0–100 cm were stored in the upper 50 cm of the soil pool. In the vegetation layer, due to the similar tree biomass carbon and nitrogen stocks, there were no significant differences in carbon and nitrogen stocks among the three types of larch forest ecosystems. The litter carbon stock in the SLL was significantly higher than that in the LL and RL (P < 0.05), but no significant differences in nitrogen stock were found among them (P > 0.05). These findings suggest that different forest types with the same tree layer and different understory vegetation can greatly affect the carbon and nitrogen stock capacity of the forest ecosystem. This indicates that understory vegetation may have significant effects on the carbon and nitrogen stocks in soil and litter, which highlights the need to consider the effects of understory in future research into the carbon and nitrogen stock capacity of forest ecosystems.