Global warming can be mitigated by carbon sequestration through forestry and agroforestry. For countries with low industrial development, carbon sequestration also represents an opportunity to fund sustainable development. In the Canary Islands, CO2 emissions are above the average for Spain, in fact, they are estimated to be three times higher. Authorities have been working in recent years to reduce these emissions and increase carbon sequestration. Afforestation on the island of Tenerife has been carried out mainly using an endemic pine species (Pinus canariensis), the dominant species of native pine forest stands. However, the exotic Pinus radiata has also been introduced in some areas. The success of exotic invasive species is often attributed to their capacity for fast growth, particularly when resources are not limited and can continue to increase. In this situation, exotic species are more competitive compared to native ones. We evaluated the capacity to absorb CO2 of P. radiata vs. P. canariensis under similar environmental conditions and planted during the same period. Through allometric equations for above ground biomass, we estimated the amount of biomass and carbon content in individuals and extrapolated these results to the rest of the mass (in the the Corona Forestal Natural Park in Tenerife). Our preliminary results revealed that P. radiata and P. canariensis sequester different amounts of carbon under similar environmental conditions. The carbon capture strategy of a species is strongly associated with disturbance, with species from disturbed sites having traits that confer capacity for fast growth. We suggest that P. radiata has a higher carbon sequestration capability per individual than the native species P. canariensis. However, the much larger extensions and density of P. canariensis make this species the main carbon sink on the island.
Prehispanic fuel management in the Canary Islands: A new experimental dataset for interpreting Pinus canariensis micromorphological degradation patterns on archeological charcoal
