Sustained Biomass Carbon Sequestration by China’s Forests from 2010 to 2050

China’s forests have functioned as important carbon sinks. They are expected to have substantial future potential for biomass carbon sequestration (BCS) resulting from afforestation and reforestation. However, previous estimates of forest BCS have included large uncertainties due to the limitations of sample size, multiple data sources, and inconsistent methodologies. This study refined the BCS estimation of China’s forests from 2010 to 2050 using the national forest inventory data (FID) of 2009−2013, as well as the relationships between forest biomass and stand age retrieved from field observations for major forest types in different regions of China. The results showed that biomass–age relationships were well-fitted using field data, with respective R2 values more than 0.70 (p < 0.01) for most forest types, indicating the applicability of these relationships developed for BCS estimation in China. National BCS would increase from 130.90 to 159.94 Tg C year−1 during the period of 2010−2050 because of increases in forest area and biomass carbon density, with a maximum of 230.15 Tg C year−1 around 2030. BCS for young and middle-aged forests would increase by 65.35 and 15.38 Tg C year−1, respectively. 187.8% of this increase would be offset by premature, mature, and overmature forests. During the study period, forest BCS would increase in all but the northern region. The largest contributor to the increment would be the southern region (52.5%), followed by the southwest, northeast, northwest, and east regions. Their BCS would be primarily driven by the area expansion and forest growth of young and middle-aged forests as a result of afforestation and reforestation. In the northern region, BCS reduction would occur mainly in the Inner Mongolia province (6.38 Tg C year−1) and be caused predominantly by a slowdown in the increases of forest area and biomass carbon density for different age–class forests. Our findings are in broader agreement with other studies, which provide valuable references for the validation and parameterization of carbon models and climate-change mitigation policies in China.

Download Full-text

Biomass carbon density and carbon sequestration capacity in seven typical forest types of the Xiaoxing’an Mountains, China

Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology ◽

10.17521/cjpe.2015.0014 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 39 (2) ◽

pp. 140-158 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

HU Hai-Qing ◽

◽

LUO Bi-Zhen ◽

WEI Shu-Jing ◽

WEI Shu-Wei ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Carbon Sequestration ◽

Biomass Carbon ◽

Forest Types ◽

Carbon Density

Download Full-text

Biomass Accumulation and Carbon Sequestration in an Age-Sequence of Mongolian Pine Plantations in Horqin Sandy Land, China

Forests ◽

10.3390/f10020197 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 197 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Xiao Zhang ◽

Xueli Zhang ◽

Hui Han ◽

Zhongjie Shi ◽

Xiaohui Yang

Keyword(s):

Carbon Sequestration ◽

Forest Floor ◽

Developmental Stages ◽

Northern China ◽

Stand Age ◽

Horqin Sandy Land ◽

Sandy Land ◽

Carbon Density ◽

Tree Biomass ◽

Ecosystem Carbon

The Mongolian pine (Pinus sylvestris L. var. mongolica Litv.) was first introduced to the southeastern Horqin sandy land in the mid-1950s. Since then, it has been widely planted and has become the most important conifer species in Northern China, providing significant ecological, economic and social benefits. However, its function in sequestering carbon at different developmental stages has been little studied. In this study, twenty plots inventory and destructive sampling of eight trees were conducted in 12-, 19-, 34-, 48- and 58-year-old Mongolian pine stands of China. Allometric biomass equations (ABEs) for tree components were established and used to determine the magnitude and distribution of tree biomass and carbon density. The carbon density of the understory, forest floor and soil was also determined. The ABEs with age as the second variable could simply and accurately determine the biomass of plantation tree branches, foliage and fruit, which were considerably influenced by age. With increasing stand age, the proportion of stem biomass to total tree biomass increased from 22.2% in the 12-year-old stand to 54.2% in the 58-year-old stand, and the proportion of understory biomass to total ecosystem biomass decreased, with values of 7.5%, 4.6%, 4.4%, 4.1% and 3.0% in the five stands. The biomass of the forest floor was 0.00, 1.12, 2.04, 6.69 and 3.65 Mg ha−1 in the five stands. The ecosystem carbon density was 40.2, 73.4, 92.9, 89.9 and 87.3 Mg ha−1 in the 12-, 19-, 34-, 48-, and 58-year-old stands, in which soil carbon density accounted for the largest proportion, with values of 67.4%, 76.8%, 73.2%, 63.4%, and 57.7% respectively. The Mongolian pine had the potential for carbon sequestration during its development, especially in the early stages, however, in the later growth stage, the ecosystem carbon density decreased slightly.

Download Full-text

Carbon–nitrogen interactions in European forests and semi-natural vegetation – Part 2: Untangling climatic, edaphic, management and nitrogen deposition effects on carbon sequestration potentials

Biogeosciences ◽

10.5194/bg-17-1621-2020 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (6) ◽

pp. 1621-1654 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Chris R. Flechard ◽

Marcel van Oijen ◽

David R. Cameron ◽

Wim de Vries ◽

Andreas Ibrom ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Carbon Sequestration ◽

Nitrogen Deposition ◽

C Sequestration ◽

Forest Growth ◽

Limiting Factors ◽

Stand Age ◽

Net Ecosystem Productivity ◽

Growth Responses ◽

Ecosystem Productivity ◽

Forest Growth Model

Abstract. The effects of atmospheric nitrogen deposition (Ndep) on carbon (C) sequestration in forests have often been assessed by relating differences in productivity to spatial variations of Ndep across a large geographic domain. These correlations generally suffer from covariation of other confounding variables related to climate and other growth-limiting factors, as well as large uncertainties in total (dry + wet) reactive nitrogen (Nr) deposition. We propose a methodology for untangling the effects of Ndep from those of meteorological variables, soil water retention capacity and stand age, using a mechanistic forest growth model in combination with eddy covariance CO2 exchange fluxes from a Europe-wide network of 22 forest flux towers. Total Nr deposition rates were estimated from local measurements as far as possible. The forest data were compared with data from natural or semi-natural, non-woody vegetation sites. The response of forest net ecosystem productivity to nitrogen deposition (dNEP ∕ dNdep) was estimated after accounting for the effects on gross primary productivity (GPP) of the co-correlates by means of a meta-modelling standardization procedure, which resulted in a reduction by a factor of about 2 of the uncorrected, apparent dGPP ∕ dNdep value. This model-enhanced analysis of the C and Ndep flux observations at the scale of the European network suggests a mean overall dNEP ∕ dNdep response of forest lifetime C sequestration to Ndep of the order of 40–50 g C per g N, which is slightly larger but not significantly different from the range of estimates published in the most recent reviews. Importantly, patterns of gross primary and net ecosystem productivity versus Ndep were non-linear, with no further growth responses at high Ndep levels (Ndep > 2.5–3 g N m−2 yr−1) but accompanied by increasingly large ecosystem N losses by leaching and gaseous emissions. The reduced increase in productivity per unit N deposited at high Ndep levels implies that the forecast increased Nr emissions and increased Ndep levels in large areas of Asia may not positively impact the continent's forest CO2 sink. The large level of unexplained variability in observed carbon sequestration efficiency (CSE) across sites further adds to the uncertainty in the dC∕dN response.

Download Full-text

How temperature, precipitation and stand age control the biomass carbon density of global mature forests

Global Ecology and Biogeography ◽

10.1111/geb.12113 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 23 (3) ◽

pp. 323-333 ◽

Cited By ~ 41

Author(s):

Yingchun Liu ◽

Guirui Yu ◽

Qiufeng Wang ◽

Yangjian Zhang

Keyword(s):

Stand Age ◽

Biomass Carbon ◽

Carbon Density

Download Full-text

Rozsoshentsy forest area of Poltava-city green belt (soil-geobotanical and typological and characteristic)

Fundamental and Applied Soil Science ◽

10.15421/041513 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 16 (3-4) ◽

pp. 18-24

Author(s):

N. O. Vlasenko

Keyword(s):

Forest Type ◽

Sandy Loam ◽

Growth Conditions ◽

Forest Growth ◽

Forest Area ◽

Forest Types ◽

White Poplar ◽

Green Belt ◽

Bottomland Forests ◽

Forest Typology

Natural forests have their own ancient history, for this reason, their composition and structure reflect their existing conditions. In the artificial forests, only growth class and plantations general conditions can be in part the indicator of this residence. O. L. Belgard investigated natural biogeocoenosis and artificial cultural geocoenosis and worked up the detailed forest typology. The peculiarity of O. L. Belgard typology is biogeocoenological approach to the understanding and forest investigating based on G. M. Vysotskiy, G. F. Morozov, V. M. Suchkov ideas. O. L. Belgard accepted the conception of forest biogeocoenosis the components of which are phytocoenosis, zoocoenosis, microbiota, climatope and adaphotope. Rozsoshentsy forestry consists of 87 planning compartments with a total area of 3130.0 hectares, is a part of National Enterprise “Poltava forestry” and is situated on its southern part on the territory of Poltava administrative district and Poltava city. There are no publications in the science literature that could systematically reflect the results of investigations taken place in Rozsoshentsy forest area. Different scientists in different times investigated particular types of vegetations; the general characteristic of forests was specified in some works. The aim of our work is the forest typology investigation, ecological and biological, typological, soil and geobotanical peculiarities of natural and artificial forests of Rozsoshentsy forest area. For the fist time the investigation of natural and artificial forests of Rozsoshentsy forest area of Poltava-city green belt has been started according to the method of O. L. Belgard forest typology. Groups that were investigated inside the forestry are related to hydrotopes of bottomland forests with long-term flooding, bottomland forests with short-term flooding, noninundated with arena and ravine forests. The forest type is defined by accessories to specific trophotope and hydrotope and connected with floodplain factor of certain place of existence. The main place in definition of ecotope peculiarities takes vegetations that fully reflect the dimensionality of conditions. There are some plant associations inside the forest type that give an idea about coenosis from the floristic point of view. One or several associations can correspond to each forest type with direct species structure of tree, bushy and herbaceous layers. Artificial forests typological characteristic based on three taxonomic rank units: forest growth conditions type, ecological structure type and forest stand type. It was found out that the main forest types in structure of investigated forest area are oak, pine, sticky alder and aspen, poplar and birch forests. It means that main forest forming types are six types of wood. Rozsoshentsy forest area of Poltava-city green belt dendroflora has 33 tree and bushy types, 24 genuses, 14 families, 2 rooms. The most popular forest types on the investigated territory according to the forest typology are new oak and pine trees – 31.9 % , new pine forests – 9.1 %, new and dry maple and linden forests – 27.2 % and 6.3 % correspondently. Forest accounts for 5.3 % of forested areas with excessive wet ground. The investigation that was carried out gave us an opportunity to find out four natural forest vegetation types: (new linden and hornbeam forest with wide grasses), Dn4 (alder forest with moist tall grasses), Dc3 (wet aspen forest with aise-weed), De3 (wet white poplar forest); and two types of artificial forest vegetations: De3 (wet white poplar forest) and AB1 (birch forest with dryish miscellaneous). Different variations of soils have been investigated. It was found out that in investigated natural phytocoenosis the type of forest growth conditions is clay loam with different variations: new (СГ2), wet (СГ3), moist (СГ4); and wet sandy loam (СП3); in artificial cultural phytocoenosis the sandy loam is wet and dryish. The prevailing soil types on the territory of Rozsoshentsy forestry are dark grey podzolized forest loam, typical chernozem and podzolized hard loamy chernoozem, but in floodplain of the river Vorskla is a peat-bog soils. The content of humus is 7–8 %. The depth of ground water deposits connected with deposits of brown-red underclay (impermeable horizon) and ranges according to the relief elements and soil degree of erosion from 15 to 34 m. Carbonates are absent in soil of Rozsoshentsy forest area. Water extract analysis tells about the lack of salinity, dry particles ranges between 0.05–0.2 %, PH is mostly alkaline. Detailed ecological and biological characteristics and establishing peculiarities of Rozsoshentsy forest area adaphotope will give an opportunity to reconstruct the existing Poltava-city green belt plantations and organize the stationary investigations with the aim of their employment and saving.

Download Full-text

Above-ground carbon stock assessment in different forest types of Nepal

Banko Janakari ◽

10.3126/banko.v19i2.2979 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 19 (2) ◽

pp. 10-14 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

SK Baral ◽

R Malla ◽

S Ranabhat

Keyword(s):

Carbon Sequestration ◽

Key Words ◽

Carbon Stock ◽

Stock Assessment ◽

Allometric Equations ◽

Biomass Carbon ◽

Above Ground Biomass ◽

Forest Types ◽

Ground Biomass ◽

Physiographic Regions

This study assessed the above-ground carbon stock in the five major forest types, representing two physiographic regions and four districts of Nepal. Altogether, 116 circular sample plots were laid out systematically in different forests types to inventory the forest. Total above-ground biomass was derived with allometric equations. Results indicated variation in age of the stand (18-75 years), above-ground carbon stock per hectare (34.30- 97.86 dry wt. ton ha-1) and rate of carbon sequestration (1.30-3.21 t ha-1yr-1), according to different forest types. The rate of carbon sequestration by different forest types depended on the growing nature of the forest stands. Tropical riverine and Alnus nepalensis forest types demonstrated the highest carbon sequestration rates in Nepal. Key Words: Above-ground biomass; carbon; forest types; Nepal DOI: 10.3126/banko.v19i2.2979 Banko Janakari, Vol. 19, No.2 2009 pp.10-14

Download Full-text

Carbon / nitrogen interactions in European forests and semi-natural vegetation. Part II: Untangling climatic, edaphic, management and nitrogen deposition effects on carbon sequestration potentials

10.5194/bg-2019-335 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Chris R. Flechard ◽

Marcel van Oijen ◽

David R. Cameron ◽

Wim de Vries ◽

Andreas Ibrom ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Carbon Sequestration ◽

Nitrogen Deposition ◽

C Sequestration ◽

Forest Growth ◽

Limiting Factors ◽

Stand Age ◽

Water Retention Capacity ◽

Gaseous Emissions ◽

N Losses ◽

Forest Growth Model

Abstract. The effects of atmospheric nitrogen deposition (Ndep) on carbon (C) sequestration in forests have often been assessed by relating differences in productivity to spatial variations of Ndep across a large geographic domain. These correlations generally suffer from covariation of other confounding variables related to climate and other growth-limiting factors, as well as large uncertainties in total (dry + wet) reactive nitrogen (Nr) deposition. We propose a methodology for untangling the effects of Ndep from those of meteorological variables, soil water retention capacity and stand age, using a mechanistic forest growth model in combination with eddy covariance CO2 exchange fluxes from a Europe-wide network of forest flux towers. Total Nr deposition rates were estimated from local measurements as far as possible. The forest data were compared with data from natural or semi-natural, non-woody vegetation sites. The carbon sequestration response of forests to nitrogen deposition (dC / dN) was estimated after accounting for the effects of the co-correlates by means of a meta-modelling standardization procedure, which resulted in a reduction by a factor of about 2 of the uncorrected, apparent dC / dN value. This model-enhanced analysis of the C and Ndep flux observations at the scale of the European network suggests a mean overall dC / dN response of forest lifetime C sequestration to Ndep of the order of 40–50 g (C) g−1 (N), which is slightly larger but not significantly different from the range of estimates published in the most recent reviews. Importantly, patterns of gross primary and net ecosystem productivity versus Ndep were non-linear, with no further responses at high Ndep levels (Ndep > 2.5–3 g (N) m−2 yr−1) partly due to large ecosystem N losses by leaching and gaseous emissions. The reduced increase in productivity per unit N deposited at high Ndep levels implies that the forecast increased Nr emissions and increased Ndep levels in large areas of Asia may not positively impact the continent's forest CO2 sink. The large level of unexplained variability in observed carbon sequestration efficiency (CSE) across sites further adds to the uncertainty in the dC / dN response.

Download Full-text

Stand structure and species diversity regulate biomass carbon stock under major Central Himalayan forest types of India

Ecological Processes ◽

10.1186/s13717-021-00283-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Siddhartha Kaushal ◽

Ratul Baishya

Keyword(s):

Species Diversity ◽

Carbon Stock ◽

Basal Area ◽

Positive Influence ◽

Total Carbon ◽

Biomass Carbon ◽

Forest Types ◽

Carbon Density ◽

Growing Stock ◽

Large Trees

Abstract Background Data on the impact of species diversity on biomass in the Central Himalayas, along with stand structural attributes is sparse and inconsistent. Moreover, few studies in the region have related population structure and the influence of large trees on biomass. Such data is crucial for maintaining Himalayan biodiversity and carbon stock. Therefore, we investigated these relationships in major Central Himalayan forest types using non-destructive methodologies to determine key factors and underlying mechanisms. Results Tropical Shorea robusta dominant forest has the highest total biomass density (1280.79 Mg ha−1) and total carbon density (577.77 Mg C ha−1) along with the highest total species richness (21 species). The stem density ranged between 153 and 457 trees ha−1 with large trees (> 70 cm diameter) contributing 0–22%. Conifer dominant forest types had higher median diameter and Cedrus deodara forest had the highest growing stock (718.87 m3 ha−1); furthermore, C. deodara contributed maximally toward total carbon density (14.6%) among all the 53 species combined. Quercus semecarpifolia–Rhododendron arboreum association forest had the highest total basal area (94.75 m2 ha−1). We found large trees to contribute up to 65% of the growing stock. Nine percent of the species contributed more than 50% of the carbon stock. Species dominance regulated the growing stock significantly (R2 = 0.707, p < 0.001). Temperate forest types had heterogeneous biomass distribution within the forest stands. We found total basal area, large tree density, maximum diameter, species richness, and species diversity as the predominant variables with a significant positive influence on biomass carbon stock. Both structural attributes and diversity influenced the ordination of study sites under PCA analysis. Elevation showed no significant correlation with either biomass or species diversity components. Conclusions The results suggest biomass hyperdominance with both selection effects and niche complementarity to play a complex mechanism in enhancing Central Himalayan biomass carbon stock. Major climax forests are in an alarming state regarding future carbon security. Large trees and selective species act as key regulators of biomass stocks; however, species diversity also has a positive influence and should also reflect under management implications.

Download Full-text

Assessment of Carbon Density in Natural Mountain Forest Ecosystems at Northwest China

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18042098 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 2098

Author(s):

Li Dai ◽

Yufang Zhang ◽

Lei Wang ◽

Shuanli Zheng ◽

Wenqiang Xu

Keyword(s):

Carbon Content ◽

Carbon Storage ◽

Forest Ecosystems ◽

Soil Layer ◽

Northwest China ◽

Biomass Carbon ◽

Forest Age ◽

Carbon Density ◽

Old Growth Forest ◽

Content Ratio

The natural mountain forests in northwest China are recognized as a substantial carbon pool and play an important role in local fragile ecosystems. This study used inventory data and detailed field measurements covering different forest age groups (young, middle-aged, near-mature, mature, old-growth forest), structure of forest (tree, herb, litter and soil layer) and trees (leaves, branches, trunks and root) to estimate biomass, carbon content ratio, carbon density and carbon storage in Altai forest ecosystems. The results showed that the average biomass of the Altai Mountains forest ecosystems was 126.67 t·hm−2, and the descending order of the value was tree layer (120.84 t·hm−2) > herb layer (4.22 t·hm−2) > litter layer (1.61 t·hm−2). Among the tree parts, trunks, roots, leaves and branches accounted for 50%, 22%, 16% and 12% of the total tree biomass, respectively. The average carbon content ratio was 0.49 (range: 0.41–0.52). The average carbon density of forest ecosystems was 205.72 t·hm−2, and the carbon storage of the forest ecosystems was 131.35 Tg (standard deviation: 31.01) inside study area. Soil had the highest carbon storage (65.98%), followed by tree (32.81%), herb (0.78%) and litter (0.43%) layers. Forest age has significant effect on biomass, carbon content ratio, carbon density and carbon storage. The carbon density of forest ecosystems in study area was spatially distributed higher in the south and lower in north, which is influenced by climate, topography, soil types and dominant tree species.

Download Full-text

Potential of Alnus acuminata based agroforestry for carbon sequestration and other ecosystem services in Rwanda

Agroforestry Systems ◽

10.1007/s10457-021-00619-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Athanase R. Cyamweshi ◽

Shem Kuyah ◽

Athanase Mukuralinda ◽

Catherine W. Muthuri

Keyword(s):

Ecosystem Services ◽

Carbon Sequestration ◽

Soil Fertility ◽

Tree Age ◽

Average Height ◽

Total Biomass ◽

Biomass Carbon ◽

Alnus Acuminata ◽

Sequestration Potential ◽

Old Trees

AbstractAlnus acuminata Kunth. (alnus) is widely used in agroforestry systems across the globe and is believed to provide multiple ecosystem services; however, evidence is lacking in agroforestry literature to support the perceived benefits, particularly in Rwanda. To understand carbon sequestration potential and other benefits of alnus, a household survey, tree inventory and destructive sampling were conducted in north-western Rwanda. Over 75% of the respondents had alnus trees in their farms. The trees provide stakes for climbing beans, firewood and timber. They also improve soil fertility and control soil erosion. Farmers had between 130 and 161 alnus trees per hectare with an average height of 7.7 ± 0.59 m and diameter at breast height of 16.3 ± 1.39 cm. The largest biomass proportion was found in stems (70.5%) while branches and leaves stock about 16.5 and 13% of the total biomass, respectively. At farm level, aboveground biomass of alnus trees was estimated to be 27.2 ± 0.7 Mg ha−1 representing 13.6 Mg of carbon (C) per hectare. Biomass carbon increased with tree size, from 7.1 ± 0.2 Mg C ha−1 in 3 years old trees to 34.4 ± 2.2 Mg C ha−1 in 10 years old trees. The converse was observed with elevation; biomass carbon decreased with increasing elevation from 21.4 ± 1.29 Mg C ha−1 at low (2011–2110 m) to 9.6 ± 0.75 Mg C ha−1 in the high elevation (> 2510 m). In conclusion, alnus agroforestry significantly contributes to carbon sequestration, although the magnitude of these benefits varies with tree age and elevation. Planting alnus trees on farms can meet local needs for stakes for climbing beans, wood and soil fertility improvement, as well as the global need for regulation of climate change.

Download Full-text