Stand-level biomass models for predicting C stock for the main Spanish pine species

Background:National and international institutions periodically demand information on forest indicators that are used for global reporting.Among other aspects,the carbon accumulated in the biomass of forest species must be reported.For this purpose,one of the main sources of data is the National Forest Inventory(NFI),which together with statistical empirical approaches and updating procedures can even allow annual estimates of the requested indicators.Methods:Stand level biomass models,relating the dry weight of the biomass with the stand volume were developed for the five main pine species in the Iberian Peninsula(Pinus sylvestris,Pinus pinea,Pinus halepensis,Pinus nigra and Pinus pinaster).The dependence of the model on aridity and/or mean tree size was explored,as well as the importance of including the stand form factor to correct model bias.Furthermore,the capability of the models to estimate forest carbon stocks,updated for a given year,was also analysed.Results:The strong relationship between stand dry weight biomass and stand volume was modulated by the mean tree size,although the effect varied among the five pine species.Site humidity,measured using the Martonne aridity index,increased the biomass for a given volume in the cases of Pinus sylvestris,Pinus halepensis and Pinus nigra.Models that consider both mean tree size and stand form factor were more accurate and less biased than those that do not.The models developed allow carbon stocks in the main Iberian Peninsula pine forests to be estimated at stand level with biases of less than 0.2 Mg·ha^(-1).Conclusions:The results of this study reveal the importance of considering variables related with environmental conditions and stand structure when developing stand dry weight biomass models.The described methodology together with the models developed provide a precise tool that can be used for quantifying biomass and carbon stored in the Spanish pine forests in specific years when no field data are available.

Effects of Afforestation on Carbon Storage in Boyang Lake Basin,China

By using field survey data from the sixth forest inventory of Jiangxi Province in 2003,the biomass and carbon storage for three studied species(Pinus massoniana,Cunninghamia lanceolata,and Pinus elliottii)were estimated in Taihe and Xingguo counties of Boyang Lake Basin,Jiangxi Province,China.The relationship between carbon density and forest age was analyzed by logistic equations.Spatio-temporal dynamics of forest biomass and carbon storage in 1985–2003 were also described.The results show that total stand area of the three forest species was 3.10×105ha,total biomass 22.20 Tg,vegetation carbon storage 13.07 Tg C,and average carbon density 42.36 Mg C/ha in the study area in 2003.Carbon storage by forest type in descending order was:P.massoniana,C.lanceolata and P.elliottii.Carbon storage by forest age group in descending order was:middle stand,young stand,near-mature stand and mature stand.Carbon storage by plantation forests was 1.89 times higher than that by natural forests.Carbon density of the three species increased 8.58 Mg C/ha during the study period.The carbon density of Taihe County was higher in the east and west,and lower in the middle.The carbon density of Xingguo County was higher in the northeast and lower in the middle.In general,the carbon density increased with altitude and gradient.Afforestation projects contribute significantly to increasing stand area and carbon storage.Appropriate forest management may improve the carbon sequestration capacity of forest ecosystems.

Carbon Sequestration in Forest Vegetation of Beijing at Sublot Level

Based on forest inventory data (FID) at sublot level,we estimated the carbon sequestration in forest vegetation of Beijing,China in 2009.In this study,the carbon sequestration in forest vegetation at sublot level was calculated based on net biomass production (ΔB) which was estimated with biomass of each sublot and function relationships between ΔB and biomass.The biomass of forested land was calculated with biomass expansion factors (BEFs) method,while those of shrub land and other forest land types were estimated with biomass,coverage and height of referred shrubs and shrub coverage and height of each sublot.As one of special forested land types,the biomass of economic tree land was calculated with biomass per tree and tree number.The variation of carbon sequestration in forest vegetation with altitude,species and stand age was also investigated in this study.The results indicate that the carbon sequestration in forest vegetation in Beijing is 4.12 × 106 tC/yr,with the average rate of 3.94 tC/(ha·yr).About 56.91% of the total carbon sequestration in forest vegetation is supported by the forest in the plain with an altitude of < 60 m and the low mountainous areas with an altitude from 400 m to 800 m.The carbon sequestration rate in forest vegetation is the highest in the plain area with an altitude of < 60 m and decreased significantly in the transitional area from the low plain to the low mountainous area with an altitude ranging from 200 m to 400 m due to intensive human disturbance.The carbon sequestration of Populus spp.forest and Quercus spp.forest are relatively higher than those of other plant species,accounting for 25.33% of the total.The carbon sequestration in vegetation by the forest of < 40 years amounts to 45.38% of the total.The carbon sequestration rate in forest vegetation peaks at the stand age of 30–40 years.Therefore,it would be crucial for enhancing the capability of carbon sequestration in forest vegetation to protect the forest in Beijing,to limit human disturbance in the transitional area from the plain to the low mountain area,and to foster the newly established open forest.