Historical and future carbon stocks in forests of northern Ontario, Canada
Abstract Background Forests in the Far North of Ontario (FNO), Canada, are likely the least studied in North America, and quantifying their current and future carbon (C) stocks is the first step in assessing their potential role in climate change mitigation. Although the FNO forests are unmanaged, t...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-07-01
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| Series: | Carbon Balance and Management |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13021-021-00184-5 |
| _version_ | 1819105327923068928 |
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| author | Michael T. Ter-Mikaelian Alemu Gonsamo Jing M. Chen Gang Mo Jiaxin Chen |
| author_facet | Michael T. Ter-Mikaelian Alemu Gonsamo Jing M. Chen Gang Mo Jiaxin Chen |
| author_sort | Michael T. Ter-Mikaelian |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Forests in the Far North of Ontario (FNO), Canada, are likely the least studied in North America, and quantifying their current and future carbon (C) stocks is the first step in assessing their potential role in climate change mitigation. Although the FNO forests are unmanaged, the latter task is made more important by growing interest in developing the region’s natural resources, primarily for timber harvesting. In this study, we used a combination of field and remotely sensed observations with a land surface model to estimate forest C stocks in the FNO forests and to project their future dynamics. The specific objective was to simulate historical C stocks for 1901–2014 and future C stocks for 2015–2100 for five shared socioeconomic pathway (SSP) scenarios selected as high priority scenarios for the 6th Assessment Report on Climate Change. Results Carbon stocks in live vegetation in the FNO forests remained relatively stable between 1901 and 2014 while soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks steadily declined, losing about 16% of their initial value. At the end of the historical simulation (in 2014), the stocks were estimated at 19.8, 46.4, and 66.2 tCha−1 in live vegetation, SOC, and total ecosystem pools, respectively. Projections for 2015–2100 indicated effectively no substantial change in SOC stocks, while live vegetation C stocks increased, accelerating their growth in the second half of the twenty-first century. These results were consistent among all simulated SSP scenarios. Consequently, increase in total forest ecosystem C stocks by 2100 ranged from 16.7 to 20.7% of their value in 2015. Simulations with and without wildfires showed the strong effect of fire on forest C stock dynamics during 2015–2100: inclusion of wildfires reduced the live vegetation increase by half while increasing the SOC pool due to higher turnover of vegetation C to SOC. Conclusions Forest ecosystem C stock estimates at the end of historical simulation period were at the lower end but within the range of values reported in the literature for northern boreal forests. These estimates may be treated as conservatively low since the area included in the estimates is poorly studied and some of the forests may be on peat deposits rather than mineral soils. Future C stocks were projected to increase in all simulated SSP scenarios, especially in the second half of the twenty-first century. Thus, during the projected period forest ecosystems of the FNO are likely to act as a C sink. In light of growing interest in developing natural resources in the FNO, collecting more data on the status and dynamics of its forests is needed to verify the above-presented estimates and design management activities that would maintain their projected C sink status. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T02:20:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-30dd45b0d07847dbbb6aaff3d822bd62 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1750-0680 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T02:20:30Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Carbon Balance and Management |
| spelling | doaj.art-30dd45b0d07847dbbb6aaff3d822bd622022-12-21T18:42:08ZengBMCCarbon Balance and Management1750-06802021-07-0116111810.1186/s13021-021-00184-5Historical and future carbon stocks in forests of northern Ontario, CanadaMichael T. Ter-Mikaelian0Alemu Gonsamo1Jing M. Chen2Gang Mo3Jiaxin Chen4Ontario Forest Research Institute, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and ForestrySchool of Earth, Environment & Society, McMaster UniversityDepartment of Geography and Planning, University of TorontoDepartment of Geography and Planning, University of TorontoOntario Forest Research Institute, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and ForestryAbstract Background Forests in the Far North of Ontario (FNO), Canada, are likely the least studied in North America, and quantifying their current and future carbon (C) stocks is the first step in assessing their potential role in climate change mitigation. Although the FNO forests are unmanaged, the latter task is made more important by growing interest in developing the region’s natural resources, primarily for timber harvesting. In this study, we used a combination of field and remotely sensed observations with a land surface model to estimate forest C stocks in the FNO forests and to project their future dynamics. The specific objective was to simulate historical C stocks for 1901–2014 and future C stocks for 2015–2100 for five shared socioeconomic pathway (SSP) scenarios selected as high priority scenarios for the 6th Assessment Report on Climate Change. Results Carbon stocks in live vegetation in the FNO forests remained relatively stable between 1901 and 2014 while soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks steadily declined, losing about 16% of their initial value. At the end of the historical simulation (in 2014), the stocks were estimated at 19.8, 46.4, and 66.2 tCha−1 in live vegetation, SOC, and total ecosystem pools, respectively. Projections for 2015–2100 indicated effectively no substantial change in SOC stocks, while live vegetation C stocks increased, accelerating their growth in the second half of the twenty-first century. These results were consistent among all simulated SSP scenarios. Consequently, increase in total forest ecosystem C stocks by 2100 ranged from 16.7 to 20.7% of their value in 2015. Simulations with and without wildfires showed the strong effect of fire on forest C stock dynamics during 2015–2100: inclusion of wildfires reduced the live vegetation increase by half while increasing the SOC pool due to higher turnover of vegetation C to SOC. Conclusions Forest ecosystem C stock estimates at the end of historical simulation period were at the lower end but within the range of values reported in the literature for northern boreal forests. These estimates may be treated as conservatively low since the area included in the estimates is poorly studied and some of the forests may be on peat deposits rather than mineral soils. Future C stocks were projected to increase in all simulated SSP scenarios, especially in the second half of the twenty-first century. Thus, during the projected period forest ecosystems of the FNO are likely to act as a C sink. In light of growing interest in developing natural resources in the FNO, collecting more data on the status and dynamics of its forests is needed to verify the above-presented estimates and design management activities that would maintain their projected C sink status.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13021-021-00184-5Carbon balanceBorealClimate changeShared socioeconomic pathwaysFar North of Ontario |
| spellingShingle | Michael T. Ter-Mikaelian Alemu Gonsamo Jing M. Chen Gang Mo Jiaxin Chen Historical and future carbon stocks in forests of northern Ontario, Canada Carbon Balance and Management Carbon balance Boreal Climate change Shared socioeconomic pathways Far North of Ontario |
| title | Historical and future carbon stocks in forests of northern Ontario, Canada |
| title_full | Historical and future carbon stocks in forests of northern Ontario, Canada |
| title_fullStr | Historical and future carbon stocks in forests of northern Ontario, Canada |
| title_full_unstemmed | Historical and future carbon stocks in forests of northern Ontario, Canada |
| title_short | Historical and future carbon stocks in forests of northern Ontario, Canada |
| title_sort | historical and future carbon stocks in forests of northern ontario canada |
| topic | Carbon balance Boreal Climate change Shared socioeconomic pathways Far North of Ontario |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13021-021-00184-5 |
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