The relative contributions of forest growth and areal expansion to forest biomass carbon
Forests play a leading role in regional and global terrestrial carbon (C) cycles. Changes in C sequestration within forests can be attributed to areal expansion (increase in forest area) and forest growth (increase in biomass density). Detailed assessment of the relative contributions of areal expan...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2016-01-01
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| Series: | Biogeosciences |
| Online Access: | http://www.biogeosciences.net/13/375/2016/bg-13-375-2016.pdf |
| Summary: | Forests play a leading role in regional and global terrestrial carbon (C)
cycles. Changes in C sequestration within forests can be attributed to areal
expansion (increase in forest area) and forest growth (increase in biomass
density). Detailed assessment of the relative contributions of areal
expansion and forest growth to C sinks is crucial to reveal the mechanisms
that control forest C sinks and it is helpful for developing sustainable forest
management policies in the face of climate change. Using the Forest
Identity concept and forest inventory data, this study quantified the spatial and
temporal changes in the relative contributions of forest areal expansion and
increased biomass growth to China's forest biomass C sinks from 1977 to
2008. Over the last 30 years, the areal expansion of forests has been a larger
contributor to C sinks than forest growth for planted forests in China
(62.2 % vs. 37.8 %). However, for natural forests, forest growth has made a
larger contribution than areal expansion (60.4 % vs. 39.6 %). For all
forests (planted and natural forests), growth in area and density has
contributed equally to the total C sinks of forest biomass in China
(50.4 % vs. 49.6 %).The relative contribution of forest growth of
planted forests showed an increasing trend from an initial 25.3 % to
61.0 % in the later period of 1998 to 2003, but for natural forests, the
relative contributions were variable without clear trends, owing to the
drastic changes in forest area and biomass density over the last 30 years.
Our findings suggest that afforestation will continue to increase the C sink
of China's forests in the future, subject to sustainable forest growth after
the establishment of plantations. |
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| ISSN: | 1726-4170 1726-4189 |