Terrestrial Carbon Stock Potential in Selected Forest in Bhutan, India and Nepal

Forests are natural carbon reservoirs that play an important role in the global carbon cycle for storing large quantities of carbon in vegetation and soils. Carbon stored in pool helps in mitigating climate change by carbon sequestration. The vulnerable countries to changing climate such as Bhutan, Nepal, and India require a full understanding of carbon dynamics as well as baseline data on carbon stock potential to mitigate anticipated risks and vulnerabilities (RVs) through climate change. The scope of such RVs are trans boundary in nature, however, the comparative studies at regional scale are still scanty. Therefore, the aim of this review is to assess the carbon stock potentials of selected forest types in the eastern Himalayan area, with an emphasis on Bhutan, India, and Nepal. This review paper is based on published articles, information from websites and considerable data from National forestry reports of India and Bhutan; emphasizing on aboveground biomass and soil organic carbon stock. The review showed that carbon stock potential is highly dependent on stand density, above-ground biomass, species richness and forest types. The sub-tropical forest was found to have larger carbon capacity and sequestration potential. SOC concentration and tree biomass stocks were significantly higher at the high altitude where there is less human disturbance. In general, forest coverage has increased compare to previous year in Bhutan, India and Nepal which ultimately leads to higher carbon stock potential. It is mainly due to strong policies and different strategies for conservation of forest management have reduced mass destruction despite a growing population. Despite the rules, deforestation continues to occur at various scales. However, it can be stated that the government and citizens are working hard to increase carbon stock potential, mostly through afforestation and community forest creation. In addition, it is recommended to practice sustainable forest management, regulated and planned cutting of trees and proper forest products utilization.

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A multi-purpose National Forest Inventory in Bangladesh: design, operationalisation and key results

Forest Ecosystems ◽

10.1186/s40663-021-00284-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Matieu Henry ◽

Zaheer Iqbal ◽

Kristofer Johnson ◽

Mariam Akhter ◽

Liam Costello ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Forest Management ◽

Data Collection ◽

Land Cover ◽

Forest Inventory ◽

Sustainable Forest Management ◽

National Forest Inventory ◽

Forest Resources ◽

National Forest ◽

Land Cover Map

Abstract Background National forest inventory and forest monitoring systems are more important than ever considering continued global degradation of trees and forests. These systems are especially important in a country like Bangladesh, which is characterised by a large population density, climate change vulnerability and dependence on natural resources. With the aim of supporting the Government’s actions towards sustainable forest management through reliable information, the Bangladesh Forest Inventory (BFI) was designed and implemented through three components: biophysical inventory, socio-economic survey and remote sensing-based land cover mapping. This article documents the approach undertaken by the Forest Department under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change to establish the BFI as a multipurpose, efficient, accurate and replicable national forest assessment. The design, operationalization and some key results of the process are presented. Methods The BFI takes advantage of the latest and most well-accepted technological and methodological approaches. Importantly, it was designed through a collaborative process which drew from the experience and knowledge of multiple national and international entities. Overall, 1781 field plots were visited, 6400 households were surveyed, and a national land cover map for the year 2015 was produced. Innovative technological enhancements include a semi-automated segmentation approach for developing the wall-to-wall land cover map, an object-based national land characterisation system, consistent estimates between sample-based and mapped land cover areas, use of mobile apps for tree species identification and data collection, and use of differential global positioning system for referencing plot centres. Results Seven criteria, and multiple associated indicators, were developed for monitoring progress towards sustainable forest management goals, informing management decisions, and national and international reporting needs. A wide range of biophysical and socioeconomic data were collected, and in some cases integrated, for estimating the indicators. Conclusions The BFI is a new information source tool for helping guide Bangladesh towards a sustainable future. Reliable information on the status of tree and forest resources, as well as land use, empowers evidence-based decision making across multiple stakeholders and at different levels for protecting natural resources. The integrated socio-economic data collected provides information about the interactions between people and their tree and forest resources, and the valuation of ecosystem services. The BFI is designed to be a permanent assessment of these resources, and future data collection will enable monitoring of trends against the current baseline. However, additional institutional support as well as continuation of collaboration among national partners is crucial for sustaining the BFI process in future.

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Amazonian flood impacts on managed Brazilnut stands along Brazil’s Madeira River: A sustainable forest management system threatened by climate change

Forest Ecology and Management ◽

10.1016/j.foreco.2017.09.053 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 406 ◽

pp. 46-52 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Aurelio Diaz Herraiz ◽

Paulo Mauricio Lima de Alencastro Graça ◽

Philip Martin Fearnside

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Forest Management ◽

Management System ◽

Sustainable Forest Management ◽

Flood Impacts ◽

Madeira River

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Assessment of Biomass and Carbon Stock of planted teak forest in Terai region of Kumaun Himalaya, India

Indian Journal of Forestry ◽

10.54207/bsmps1000-2018-n97155 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 41 (4) ◽

pp. 397-402

Author(s):

Tanuja Gahlot ◽

◽

Prachi Joshi ◽

Y.S. Rawat ◽

◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Carbon Sequestration ◽

Human Disturbance ◽

Carbon Stock ◽

Large Scale ◽

Basal Area ◽

Stand Density ◽

Positive Contribution ◽

Teak Plantation ◽

Forest Division

The ability of forests in atmospheric carbon sequestration is increasingly gaining attention. Present study deals with the estimation of biomass and carbon stock of the teak plantation in the terai central forest division in Kumaun, Uttarakhand State of India. Very few scientific studies were done regarding the teak plantation and the estimation of its biomass in Kumaun. Therefore this study was carried out in this region to assess the role played by teak plantation in climate change. The information regarding the changes in pattern of carbon storage is vital and important because it can be used by government and policymakers to predict the deposit pattern for changing climate. Three sites i.e., Kamola block (Site I), Kamola beat (Site II) and East Gadappu beat (Site III) were selected for the study. Large scale variations in biomass and carbon stock were noted among all three sites. Site III (East Gadappu) showed the maximum biomass and carbon stock (297.03 tha-1 and 143.18 tha-1) followed by site I (Kamola block) (241.9 tha -1and 117.27 t ha-1) and site II ( Kamola beat ) (175.76 t ha-1and 85.79 t ha-1). Although stand density and total basal area of the forest showed almost similar value on all three sites, still the differences in biomass and carbon stock at all sites indicated the positive contribution of biodiversity as shown in the results and negative implications of human disturbance to the forest.

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Meeting the ecological, social and economic needs of sustainable forest management at a regional scale

Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1080/02827580802284693 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 23 (5) ◽

pp. 431-444 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Kati Vierikko ◽

Seppo Vehkamäki ◽

Jari Niemelä ◽

Jani Pellikka ◽

Harto Lindén

Keyword(s):

Forest Management ◽

Sustainable Forest Management ◽

Regional Scale ◽

Economic Needs

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Assessing the Opportunity Cost of Carbon Stock Caused by Land-Use Changes in Taiwan

Land ◽

10.3390/land10111240 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 1240

Author(s):

Ming-Yun Chu ◽

Wan-Yu Liu

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Land Use ◽

Carbon Storage ◽

Carbon Emissions ◽

Opportunity Cost ◽

Carbon Stock ◽

Agricultural Land ◽

Land Use Changes ◽

Market Price ◽

The Government

As compared with conventional approaches for reducing carbon emissions, the strategies of reducing emissions from deforestations and forest degradation (REDD) can greatly reduce costs. Hence, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change regards the REDD strategies as a crucial approach to mitigate climate change. To respond to climate change, Taiwan passed the Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Management Act to control the emissions of greenhouse gases. In 2021, the Taiwan government has announced that it will achieve the carbon neutrality target by 2050. Accordingly, starting with focusing on the carbon sink, the REDD strategies have been considered a recognized and feasible strategy in Taiwan. This study analyzed the net present value and carbon storage for various land-use types to estimate the carbon stock and opportunity cost of land-use changes. When the change of agricultural land to artificial forests generated carbon stock, the opportunity cost of carbon stock was negative. Contrarily, restoring artificial forests (which refer to a kind of forest that is formed through artificial planting, cultivation, and conservation) to agricultural land would generate carbon emissions, but create additional income. Since the opportunity cost of carbon storage needs to be lower than the carbon market price so that landlords have incentives to conduct REDD+, the outcomes of this study can provide a reference for the government to set an appropriate subsidy or price for carbon sinks. It is suggested that the government should offer sufficient incentives to reforest collapsed land, and implement interventions, promote carbon trading policies, or regulate the development of agricultural land so as to maintain artificial broadleaf forests for increased carbon storage.

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FOREST CARE: Evaluating progress toward sustainable forest management in Alberta

The Forestry Chronicle ◽

10.5558/tfc75811-5 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 75 (5) ◽

pp. 811-820

Author(s):

Andrew M. Carpenter ◽

Winifred B. Kessler

Keyword(s):

Forest Management ◽

Sustainable Forest Management ◽

Forest Products ◽

Forest Planning ◽

Test Case ◽

Forest Certification ◽

Certification Program ◽

Audit Process ◽

Certification Programs ◽

Northern Alberta

Forest certification programs establish standards for sustainable forest management (SFM), and processes for evaluating the practices of companies relative to those standards. FORESTCARE is a volunteer, provincial-level certification program initiated by the Alberta Forest Products Association, its members, and stakeholders. Using a participating woodlands operation in northern Alberta as a test case, we examined how SFM criteria are applied in the FORESTCARE program, and whether measurable progress is evident. We also compared the FORESTCARE audit process with corporate and government audits performed in the same year. The test case revealed specific, measurable changes in management that represent actual or potential progress toward SFM. However, the improvements could not be directly attributed to the FORESTCARE Program. Recommendations are provided for strengthening FORESTCARE processes and practices. Key words: Alberta forestry, ecosystem management, FORESTCARE, forest certification, forest planning, public participation, sustainable forest management

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