Improving the estimate of forest biomass carbon storage by combining two forest inventory systems

Quantifying forest carbon storage and its spatial distribution at regional scales is critical for the creation of greenhouse gases inventories, the evaluation of forest services and carbon-oriented forest management. The plot-based forest inventory (PBFI) and stand-based forest inventory (SBFI) collect extensive information on trees and stands respectively, and together, provide an opportunity to improve the regional estimates of forest carbon. In this study, we applied the SBFI to overcome the spatial extent limits of the PBFI in neighboring plots and improve the regional carbon estimation. We found that the forests in Sichuan Province reserved a total of 624.2?Tg?C in biomass and featured a large spatial heterogeneity, with high values in natural forests and low values in plantations. We found that the solo use of PBFI derived a slightly higher (46.63?Mg?C/ha) estimation on average compared with the integrated method (43.6?Mg?C/ha). However, when considering the spatial distribution, the PBFI generated an overestimation of young forests located between 3000and 4000?m in elevation, and an underestimation in mature forests. The spatially explicit biomass carbon estimation could be helpful in guiding regional forest management and biodiversity conservation.     

A protocol to estimate epiphyte biomass in a forest management unit: case of Cameroon

Vascular epiphyte biomass is poorly studied in Congo Basin forest. The aim of this study was to develop a protocol to estimate epiphyte biomass. Epiphytes were collected on 77 phorophytes of diameter 57–169.5 cm, oven-dried for biomass. Allometric equations for epiphyte biomass were developed with diameter and phorophyte height as predictor variables using regression analysis. The mean epiphyte biomass was 24.48 kg/phorophyte with a standard deviation of ±49.99. Cylicodiscus gabunensis and Triplochiton scleroxylon hosted the greatest epiphyte biomass with a mean vascular epiphyte biomass of 71.65 and 62.3 kg/phorophyte, respectively. Kruskal–Wallis test (p = 0.005) showed that there was a significant difference between epiphyte biomass with respect to phorophyte species. The relationship found between epiphyte biomass and dendrometric variables of the phorophytes were intermediate (Adj.R² < 0.630) meaning epiphyte biomass increased with increasing tree diameter. However, models with diameter input variables had greater prediction than input variables of total height. Based on the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), the allometry lnY = ?21.37 + 5.21 x ln(D) ?0.35 x ln(H) with AIC (183) was the best equation for the prediction of epiphyte biomass. These findings shall contribute to REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) strategy for climate change mitigation in Congo Basin.     

广东省森林资源及碳储量分布

利用2009年广东省森林资源监测数据,研究广东省森林资源和碳储量分布。结果表明,2009年广东省森林资源中2／3是商品林,并以一般用材林为主,速生林（含短轮伐期）的比例不到1／5,生态公益林的面积占林业用地面积1／3;各区域的森林资源中均以商品林为主,占64.7％～73.7％。商品林中除其他区域外均以一般用材林为主,占商品林面积的59.8％～81.3％,而其他区域以速生林为主。广东省的森林碳密度为32.2t／hm^2,其大小呈现粤北〉其他〉粤西〉珠三角〉粤东,森林碳储量为302.3TgC。     

印度米佐拉姆不同柚木林分生长蓄积量变异(英文)

评估了印度米佐拉姆3种柚木林分(Tuirial:500m asl,Sairang:200m asl和Phunchawng:550m asl)在2006年生长蓄积量。为了掌握柚木体积特性和种群结构,随机建立5个直径等级,即a(10-20cm),b(20-30cm),c(30-40cm),d(40-50cm),和e(50-60cm)。研究表明,研究地内个体密度在280-620stems·hm-2之间,平均直径在27.48—35.43cm之间,平均高度为17.87-22.24m,总的基础面积为24.28-45.80m2·hm-2,最大和最小总生长蓄积量分别为669.01m3·hm-2和284.7m3·hm-2。该物种现有种群结构确保其可以长期存在。     

Analysis of three crucial elements of REDD+ in participatory forest management

Abstract

It is claimed that reduced emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) could contribute to sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks as well as having the potential to deliver significant social and environmental co-benefits (+). From the perspectives of local factors and broader governance issues related to REDD+, this study aims to explore findings related to three crucial elements, commitment, transparency and continuity, implemented jointly with participatory forest management in Tanzania in the case of the REDD+ mechanism. This paper argues that commitment and transparent systems are needed at village level, as well as at the various levels of forest governance and among the donors, in order for REDD+ benefits to be shared equitably at the REDD+ project level. Any REDD+ project should include safeguards that recognise and protect the continuity of multipurpose functions of the forest to local people and avoid dependence on external payments.     

Growing stock variation in different teak （Tectona grandis） forest stands of Mizoram,India

The growing stock assessment of three different teak forest stands （Tuirial： 500 m asl, Sairang： 200 m asl and Phunchawng： 550 m asl） was done in 2006 in Mizoram, India. Five diameter classes were arbitrarily established for knowing the volume attribute data and population structure, viz. a （10-20 cm）, b （20-30 cm）, c （30-40 cm）, d （40-50 cm）, and e （50-60 cm）. Results revealed that the density of the individuals among the studied stands varied from 280 stems/ha to 620 stems/ha. The average diameter of all the individuals ranged between 27.48 cm and 35.43 cm. Similarly, the average height was oscillated between 17.87 m and 22.24 m. The total basal area was recorded between 24.28 m2.ha-1 and 45.80 m2.ha＂l. The maximum and minimum values of total growing stock under all the diameter classes were 669.01 m3.ha-1 and 284.7 m3.ha-1, respectively. The representation of population structure of different stands explained that the perpetuation of this species was ensured for a quite long time.     

异速模型评估森林植被生物量有机碳储量

在孟加拉的吉大港南部森林地区,利用异速模型评估森林植被的有机碳的储量.异速模型被分别应用测试树木(被划分两个胸高直径级)、灌木和草本植物.采用基部面积估算胸高直径级为从> 5 cm 到 ≤ 15 cm 和> 15 cm树木的生物量有机碳储量模型最好,分别有很高的决定系数(胸高直径级> 5 cm 到 ≤ 15 cm 的r2 为0.73697,胸高直径级> 15 cm 的r2为0.87703),且回归系数(P = 0.000)显著.其它模型(包括采用树高,胸高直径,树高和胸高直径,以及综合树高、胸高直径和木材密度)的线性和对数关系都表现出很低的决定系数.分别建立了20种优势树种的异速模型,采用树木基部面积的模型都得到很高的决定系数值.单独采用灌木和草本植物总生物量的异速模型有较高的决定系数(灌木的r2 为0.87948,草本植物的r2 为0.87325),且回归(系数)性显著(P = 0.000).生物量有机碳的评估是复杂的和耗时的研究,本研究所建立的异速模型可以应用于孟加拉和其它热带(地区)国家的森林植被的有机碳储量的测算.     

Impacts of selective logging on above-ground forest biomass in the Monts de Cristal in Gabon

Selective logging is an important socio-economic activity in the Congo Basin but one with associated environmental costs, some of which are avoidable through the use of reduced-impact logging (RIL) practices. With increased global concerns about biodiversity losses and emissions of carbon from forest in the region, more information is needed about the effects of logging on forest structure, composition, and carbon balance. We assessed the consequences of low-intensity RIL on above-ground biomass and tree species richness in a 50 ha area in northwestern Gabon. We assessed logging impacts principally in 10 randomly located 1-ha plots in which all trees ?10 cm dbh were measured, identified to species, marked, and tagged prior to harvesting. After logging, damage to these trees was recorded as being due to felling or skidding (i.e., log yarding) and skid trails were mapped in the entire 50-ha study area. Allometric equations based on tree diameter and wood density were used to transform tree diameter into biomass.Logging was light with only 0.82 trees (8.11 m³) per hectare extracted. For each tree felled, an average of 11 trees ?10 cm dbh suffered crown, bole, or root damage. Skid trails covered 2.8% of the soil surface and skidding logs to the roadside caused damage to an average of 15.6 trees ?10 cm dbh per hectare. No effect of logging was observed on tree species richness and pre-logging above-ground forest biomass (420.4 Mg ha⁻¹) declined by only 8.1% (34.2 Mg ha⁻¹). We conclude from these data that with harvest planning, worker training in RIL techniques, and low logging intensities, substantial carbon stocks and tree species richness were retained in this selectively logged forest in Gabon.     

Changes in forest cover and carbon stocks of the coastal scarp forests of the Wild Coast,South Africa

Land-use intensification and declines in vegetative cover are considered pervasive threats to forests and biodiversity globally. The small extent and high biodiversity of indigenous forests in South Africa make them particularly important. Yet, relatively little is known about their rates of use and change. From analysis of past aerial photos we quantified rates of forest cover change in the Matiwane forests of the Wild Coast, South Africa, between 1942 and 2007, as well as quantified above and belowground (to 0.5?m depth) carbon stocks based on a composite allometric equation derived for the area. Rates of forest conversion were spatially variable, with some areas showing no change and others more noticeable changes. Overall, the net reduction was 5.2% (0.08% p.a.) over the 65-year period. However, the rate of reduction has accelerated with time. Some of the reduction was balanced by natural reforestation into formerly cleared areas, but basal area, biomass and carbon stocks are still low in the reforested areas. The total carbon stock was highest in intact forests (311.7 ± 23.7 Mg C ha^?1), followed by degraded forests (73.5 ± 12.3 Mg C ha^?1) and least in regrowth forests (51.2 ± 6.2 Mg C ha^?1). The greatest contribution to total carbon stocks was soil carbon, contributing 54% in intact forests, and 78% and 68% in degraded and regrowth forests, respectively. The Matiwane forests store 4.78 Tg C, with 4.7 Tg C in intact forests, 0.06 Tg C in degraded forests and 0.02 Tg C in regrowth forests. The decrease in carbon stocks within the forests as a result of the conversion of the forest area to agricultural fields was 0.19 Tg C and approximately 0.0003 Tg C was released through harvesting of firewood and building timber.     

西藏墨脱县森林植被生物量与碳储量分析

基于墨脱县森林资源二类调查数据等材料,采用材积源生物量法以及生物量转换连续因子法等经验模型,分不同森林植被类型计算各个小班的生物量并综合;再根据不同森林植被类型的含碳率计算各个小班的碳储量以及各森林植被类型的碳密度。结果表明,墨脱县实际控制区总的森林植被生物量为77 582 750.1 t,全县单位面积平均生物量为177.61 t/hm2;总碳储量为39 355 414.3 t,全县碳密度平均为90.10 t/hm2。从结果来看,墨脱县的森林生物生产力较高,森林资源质量较好,尤其是云杉(冷杉)的单位面积平均生物量高达311.60 t/hm2,质量非常好;全县单位面积平均生物量、碳密度均为针叶树较阔叶树大。     

Temporal dynamics and spatial variations of forest vegetation carbon stock in Liaoning Province,China

There are many uncertainties in the estimation of forest car- bon sequestration in China, especially in Liaoning Province where vari- ous forest inventory data have not been fully utilized. By using forest inventory data, we estimated forest vegetation carbon stock of Liaoning Province between 1993 and 2005. Results showed that forest biomass carbon stock increased from 68.91 Tg C in 1993 to 97.51 Tg C in 2005, whereas mean carbon density increased from 18.48 Mg·ha -1 C to 22.33 Mg·ha -1 C. The carbon stora...     

Ecosystem carbon storage and partitioning in a tropical seasonal forest in Southwestern China

Tropical forests play an important role in the global carbon cycle. Despite an increasing number of studies have addressed carbon storage in tropical forests, the regional variation in such storage remains poorly understood. Uncertainty about how much carbon is stored in tropical forests is an important limitation for regional-scale estimates of carbon fluxes and improving these estimates requires extensive field studies of both above- and belowground stocks. In order to assess the carbon pools of a tropical seasonal forest in Asia, total ecosystem carbon storage was investigated in Xishuangbanna, SW China. Averaged across three 1 ha plots, the total carbon stock of the forest ecosystem was 303 t C ha⁻¹. Living tree carbon stocks (both above- and belowground) ranged from 163 to 258 t C ha⁻¹. The aboveground biomass C pool is comparable to the Dipterocarp forests in Sumatra but lower than those in Malaysia. The variation of C storage in the tree layer among different plots was mainly due to different densities of large trees (DBH > 70 cm). The contributions of the shrub layer, herb layer, woody lianas, and fine litter each accounted for 1–2 t C ha⁻¹ to the total carbon stock. The mineral soil C pools (top 100 cm) ranged from 84 to 102 t C ha⁻¹ and the C in woody debris from 5.6 to 12.5 t C ha⁻¹, representing the second and third largest C component in this ecosystem. Our results reveal that a high percentage (70%) of C is stored in biomass and less in soil in this tropical seasonal forest. This study provides an accurate estimate of the carbon pool and the partitioning of C among major components in tropical seasonal rain forest of northern tropical Asia. Results from this study will enhance our ability to evaluate the role of these forests in regional C cycles and have great implications for conservation planning.     

建立相似林分样木因子回归模型推算采伐木蓄积

在安化县杉木人工林相似林分内设立样地,测量样地对角线上26株林木的地径、胸径和树高,用Excel软件建立地径与胸径、胸径与树高的回归模型,再测量采伐木地径,用回归模型预测采伐木的胸径和树高,推算采伐木蓄积量。同时,采用地径一元立木材积表法测算林木蓄积量,并与采伐作业设计的二元立木材积表法测算的林木蓄积量相比较。结果表明:采用建立相似林分样木因子回归模型推算采伐木蓄积量方法接近采伐作业设计的蓄积量。     

Contribution of participatory forest management towards conservation and rehabilitation of dry Afromontane forests and its implications for carbon management in the tropical Southeastern Highlands of Ethiopia

Participatory forest management (PFM) has been applied as an approach to create a framework for collaborative forest management between local communities and government forestry agencies. This study was designed to assess the contribution of PFM approach in improving forest status in the Southeastern Highlands of Ethiopia. Landsat satellite imageries of four years were used to evaluate the trends and rate of deforestation before and after PFM interventions. Socio-economic data were collected from sample household surveys, key participants, focus group discussions, and field observations. The results showed that there was high rate of deforestation before PFM intervention as forestland has decreased by 19% (2531 ha) between 1990 and 2000. However, after the PFM intervention (2000–2016), the forest cover has increased by 247 ha (2.2%). During this period, net 1016 ha of shrub-lands were converted into forestland owing to significant forest regeneration. In addition, most sampled households (94% and 96% from lower and upper altitudes, respectively) perceived that PFM had significantly contributed to improve forest regeneration in their locality. This study revealed that PFM can serve as a stepping stone for carbon financing mechanisms to reduce greenhouses emission and enhance carbon sinks via forest resources.     

Effect of the estimation of forest management and decay of dead woody material on the reliability of carbon stock and carbon stock changes—A simulation study

The IPCC-GPG on Greenhouse Gas Monitoring offers countries several options for reporting. The current study selected management effects and decay of dead woody material to demonstrate the dependence of different approaches and assumptions for carbon stock and carbon stock change estimates. For a given set of inventory data the reported change of carbon stock varied between 3.1 tonnes C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹and 34.4 tonnes C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ for a 10-year period.Based on the available data set from a test area in the federal state of Salzburg (Austria) the effect of different scenarios for harvesting operations and mortality on reported carbon release was studied. The scenarios covered timber utilization at different points in time and two mortality rates (constant and exponential). A proportion of harvesting was assumed to remain inside the forest as logging residues and entered together with mortality a decay process. Two different lifetimes for decay (10 and 50 years) and constant and negative exponential decay rates were simulated. Those decisions affect the amount of carbon released considerably. For a 10-year period between 5% and 80% of the carbon content of dead woody material that accumulated within the period is released to the atmosphere.     

Above and below ground organic carbon stocks in a sub-tropical Pinus roxburghii Sargent forest of the Garhwal Himalayas

Accurate estimates of tree carbon,forest floor carbon and organic carbon in forest soils (SOC) are important in order to determine their contribution to global carbon (C) stocks.However,information about these carbon stocks is lacking.Some studies have investigated regional and continental scale patterns of carbon stocks in forest ecosystems;however,the changes in C storage in different components (vegetation,forest floor and soil) as a function of elevation in forest ecosystems remain poorly understood.In this study,we estimate C stocks of vegetation,forest floor and soils of a Pinus roxburghii Sargent forest in the Garhwal Himalayas along a gradient to quantify changes in carbon stock due to differences in elevation at three sites.The biomass of the vegetation changes drastically with increasing elevation among the three sites.The above-ground biomass (AGB) and below-ground biomass (BGB) were highest at site Ⅰ (184.46 and 46.386 t·ha-1 respectively) at an elevation of 1300 m followed by siteⅡ (173.99 and 44.057 t·ha-1 AGB and BGB respectively) at 1400 m and the lowest AGB and BGB were estimated at site Ⅲ(161.72 and 41.301 t·ha-1) at 1500 m.The trend for SOC stock was similar to that of biomass.Our results suggest that carbon storage (in both soil and biomass) is negatively correlated with elevation.     

Carbon stock measurements of a degraded tropical logged-over secondary forest in Manokwari Regency, West Papua, Indonesia

Several studies have been conducted in the past on carbon stock measurements in the tropical forests of Indonesia.This study is the first related research conducted in the New Guinea Island.In a degraded logged-over secondary forest in Manokwari Regency (West Papua,Indonesia),carbon stocks were measured for seven parts,i.e.,above-ground biomass (AGB),below-ground biomass (BGB),under-storey biomass (B u),necromass of dead leaves (N l),necromass of dead trees (N t),litter (L) and soil (S) using appropriate equations and laboratory analysis.Total carbon stocks were measured at 642.8 tC·ha-1 in the low disturbance area,536.9 tC·ha-1 in the moderate disturbance area and 490.4 tC·ha-1 in the high disturbance area.B u,N l and N t were not significant in the carbon stock and were collectively categorized as a total biomass complex.The carbon stock of litter was nearly equal to that of the total biomass complex,while the total carbon stock in the soil was eight times larger than the total biomass complex or the carbon stock of the litter.We confirmed that the average ratio of AGB and BGB to the total biomass (TB) was about 84.7% and 15.3%,respectively.Improvements were made to the equations in the low disturbance logged-over secondary forest area,applying corrections to the amounts of biomass of sample trees,based on representative commercial trees of category one.TB stocks before and after correction were estimated to be 84.4 and 106.7 tC·ha-1,indicating that these corrections added significant amounts of tree biomass (26.4%) during the sampling procedure.In conclusion,the equations for tree biomass developed in this study,will be useful for evaluating total carbon stocks,especially TB stocks in logged-over secondary forests throughout the Papua region.     

Spatial modeling of the carbon stock of forest trees in Heilongjiang Province,China

Heilongjiang province is the largest forest zone in China and the forest coverage rate is 46%. Forests of Heilongjiang province play an important role in the forest ecosystem of China. In this study we investi- gated the spatial distribution of forest carbon storage in Heilongjiang province using 3083 plots sampled in 2010. We attempted to fit two global models, ordinary least squares model （OLS）, linear mixed model （LMM）, and a local model, geographically weighted regression model （GWR）, to the relationship between forest carbon content and stand, environment, and climate factors. Five predictors significantly affected forest carbon storage and spatial distribution, viz. average diameter of stand （DBH）, number of trees per hectare （TPH）, elevation （Elev）, slope （Slope） and the product of precipitation and temperature （Rain Temp）. The GWR model outperformed the two global models in both model fitting and prediction because it successfully reduced both spatial auto- correlation and heterogeneity in model residuals. More importantly, the GWR model provided localized model coefficients for each location in the study area, which allowed us to evaluate the influences of local stand conditions and topographic features on tree and stand growth, and forest carbon stock. It also helped us to better understand the impacts of silvi- cultural and management activities on the amount and changes of forest carbon storage across the province. The detailed information can be readily incorporated with the mapping ability of GIS software to provide excellent tools for assessing the distribution and dynamics of the for- est-carbon stock in the next few years.     

Carbon stock of Banja forest in Banja district,Amhara region,Ethiopia: An implication for climate change mitigation

This study estimates the carbon stock of Banja Forest which is natural and dry Afromontane forest type in Banja District, northwest of Ethiopia. A systematic sampling method was used to identify each sampling point through the Global Positioning System. A total of 63 plots measuring 20 × 20 m were employed to collect tree species and soil data. Losses on ignition and the Walkley–Black method were used to estimate biomass and soil carbon stock, respectively. The carbon stock of trees was estimated using an allometric equation. The results revealed that the total carbon stock of the forest was 639.87 t/ha whereas trees store 406.47 t/ha, litter, herbs, and grasses (LHGs) 2.58 t/ha and soil 230.82 t/ha (up to 30 cm depth). The carbon pools’ carbon stock variation with altitude and slope gradients were not significant (p > 0.05) which was similar to other previous studies. The Banja Forest is a reservoir of high carbon and thus acts as a great sink of the atmospheric carbon. It can be concluded that the Forest plays a role in climate change mitigation. Hence, it should be integrated with reduced emission from deforestation and degradation (REDD⁺) and the clean development mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol to catch monetary benefits.     

Soil carbon stock assessment in the tropical dry deciduous forest of the Sathanur reserve forest of Eastern Ghats,India

Climate change and carbon mitigation through forest ecosystems are some of the important topics in global perspective. Tropical dry forests are one of the most widely distributed ecosystems in tropics, which remain neglected in research. The soil organic carbon (SOC) stock was quantified on a large scale (30 1-ha plots) in the dry deciduous forest of the Sathanur reserve forest of Eastern Ghats. The SOC stock ranged from 16.92 to 44.65 Mg/ha with a mean value of 28.26 ± 1.35 Mg/ha. SOC exhibited a negative trend with an increase in soil depth. A significant positive correlation was obtained between SOC stocks and vegetation characteristics viz. tree density, shrub basal area, and herb species richness, while a significant negative correlation was observed with bulk density. The variation in SOC stock among the plots obtained in the present study could be due to differences in tree abundance, herb species richness, shrub basal area, soil pH, soil bulk density, soil texture etc. The present study generates a large-scale baseline data of dry deciduous forest SOC stock, which would facilitate SOC stock assessment at the national level as well as to understand its contribution on a global scale.