Aboveground carbon sequestration of Cunninghamia lanceolata forests:Magnitude and drivers

Understanding the spatial variation,temporal changes,and their underlying driving forces of carbon sequestration in various forests is of great importance for understanding the carbon cycle and carbon management options.How carbon density and sequestration in various Cunninghamia lanceolata forests,extensively cultivated for timber production in subtropical China,vary with biodiversity,forest structure,environment,and cultural factors remain poorly explored,presenting a critical knowledge gap for realizing carbon sequestration supply potential through management.Based on a large-scale database of 449 permanent forest inventory plots,we quantified the spatial-temporal heterogeneity of aboveground carbon densities and carbon accumulation rates in Cunninghamia lanceolate forests in Hunan Province,China,and attributed the contributions of stand structure,environmental,and management factors to the heterogeneity using quantile age-sequence analysis,partial least squares path modeling(PLS-PM),and hot-spot analysis.The results showed lower values of carbon density and sequestration on average,in comparison with other forests in the same climate zone(i.e.,subtropics),with pronounced spatial and temporal variability.Specifically,quantile regression analysis using carbon accumulation rates along an age sequence showed large differences in carbon sequestration rates among underperformed and outperformed forests(0.50 and 1.80 Mg·ha^(-1)·yr^(-1)).PLS-PM demonstrated that maximum DBH and stand density were the main crucial drivers of aboveground carbon density from young to mature forests.Furthermore,species diversity and geotopographic factors were the significant factors causing the large discrepancy in aboveground carbon density change between low-and high-carbon-bearing forests.Hotspot analysis revealed the importance of culture attributes in shaping the geospatial patterns of carbon sequestration.Our work highlighted that retaining largesized DBH trees and increasing shade-tolerant tree species were important to enhance carbon sequestration in C.lanceolate forests.

Historical Changes and Multi-scenario Prediction of Land Use and Terrestrial Ecosystem Carbon Storage in China

Terrestrial carbon storage(CS)plays a crucial role in achieving carbon balance and mitigating global climate change.This study employs the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways and Representative Concentration Pathways(SSPs-RCPs)published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC)and incorporates the Policy Control Scenario(PCS)regulated by China’s land management policies.The Future Land Use Simulation(FLUS)model is employed to generate a 1 km resolution land use/cover change(LUCC)dataset for China in 2030 and 2060.Based on the carbon density dataset of China’s terrestrial ecosystems,the study analyses CS changes and their relationship with land use changes spanning from 1990 to 2060.The findings indicate that the quantitative changes in land use in China from 1990 to 2020 are characterised by a reduction in the area proportion of cropland and grassland,along with an increase in the impervious surface and forest area.This changing trend is projected to continue under the PCS from 2020 to 2060.Under the SSPs-RCPs scenario,the proportion of cropland and impervious surface predominantly increases,while the proportions of forest and grassland continuously decrease.Carbon loss in China’s carbon storage from 1990 to 2020 amounted to 0.53×10^(12)kg,primarily due to the reduced area of cropland and grassland.In the SSPs-RCPs scenario,more significant carbon loss occurs,reaching a peak of8.07×10^(12)kg in the SSP4-RCP3.4 scenario.Carbon loss is mainly concentrated in the southeastern coastal area and the Beijing-TianjinHebei(BTH)region of China,with urbanisation and deforestation identified as the primary drivers.In the future,it is advisable to enhance the protection of forests and grassland while stabilising cropland areas and improving the intensity of urban land.These research findings offer valuable data support for China’s land management policy,land space optimisation,and the achievement of dual-carbon targets.

Carbon pool structure and carbon density of soil in Pinus koraiensis plantation ecosystem

The organic carbon contents,carbon density and carbon storage of the soil in the Pinus koraiensis plantation ecosystem were investigated in Maoershan experimental forest farm,Shangzhi County,Heilongjiang,on the west slope of the Zhangguangcai Mountains in northeastern China for providing data to evaluation of the carbon balance in forest ecosystem of northeastern China.These soil carbon indicators were measured in three forest types,pure P.koraiensis plantation,P.koraiensis and Betula platyphylla mixed forest,and the P.koraiensis and Quercus mongolica mixed forest.The soil carbon pool consisted of four compartments,namely L layer,F layer,H layer and B layer.With variance analysis,we found that both organic carbon content and carbon density of the soil were significantly affected by forest types,soil compartments and slope positions.The highest soil carbon density（278.63 Mg·ha^-1）.was observed in the mixed forest of P.koraiensis and Q.mongolica.The B layer had the highest carbon density（212.28 Mg·ha^-1） among all the soil compartments.In terms of slope position,the highest soil carbon density（394.18 Mg·ha^-1） presented in the low slope.Besides,soil carbon content and carbon density had a marked change with the organic matter content and vertical depth of the soil in each compartment.The results of this study implied that in the temperate humid region,the mixed ecosystem of regional Pinus koraiensis plantations and natural forest had relatively high carbon storage capability.

Soil Organic Carbon Content and Distribution in a Small Landscape of Dongguan, South China

Global warming has become an increasing concern, and using soil as a carbon sink to sequester carbon dioxide has attracted much attention in recent years. In this study, soil organic carbon (SOC) content and organic carbon density were estimated based on a soil survey of a small landscape in Dongguan, South China, with spatial heterogeneity of SOC distribution and the impacts of land-use patterns on soil organic carbon content assessed. Field sampling was carried out based on a 150 m×150 m grid system overlaid on the topographic map of the study area and samples were collected in three 20-cm layers to a depth of 60 cm. Spatial variability in the distribution of SOC was assessed using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Results showed that SOC in the topsoil layer (0-20 cm) was not much higher or even lower in some sites than the underlying layers, and except for the two sites covered with natural woodland, it did not exhibit a pronounced vertical gradient. The difference in both horizontal and vertical distribution of SOC was not statistically significant. However, in the topsoil layer among land-use/land-cover patterns, significant differences (P≤0.05) in SOC distribution existed, indicating that management practices had great impact on SOC content. SOC storage in the study area to a depth of 20, 40, and 60 cm was estimated as 2.13×106 kg, 3.46×106 kg, and 4.61×106 kg, respectively.

Carbon Sequestration Effects of Shrublands in Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Region, China

Three-North Shelterbelt Forest （TSF） program, is one of six key forestry programs and has a 73-year construction period, from 1978 to 2050. Quantitative analysis of the carbon sequestration of shrubs in this region is important for understanding the overall function of carbon sequestration of the forest and other terrestrial ecosystems in China. This study investigated the distribution area of shrubland in the TSF region based on remote sensing images in 1978 and 2008, and calculated the carbon density of shrubland in combination with the field investigation and previous data from published papers. The carbon sequestration quantity and rate from 1978 to 2008 was analyzed for four sub-regions and different types of shrubs in the TSF region. The results revealed that： 1） The area of shrubland in the study area and its four sub-regions increased during the past thirty years. The area of shrubland for the whole region in 2008 was 1.2 × 10^7 ha, 72.8% larger than that in 1978. The Inner Mongolia-Xinjiang Sub-region was the largest shrubland distribution area, while the highest coverage rate was found in the North China Sub-region. 2） In decreasing order of their carbon sequestration, the four types of shrubs considered in this study were Hippophae rhamnoides, Caragana spp., Haloxylon ammodendron and Vitex negundo vat. heterophylla. The carbon sequestration of/-/, rhamnoides, with a maximum mean carbon density of 16.5 Mg C/ha, was significantly higher than that of the other three species. 3） The total carbon sequestration of shrubland in the study region was 4.5 x 107 Mg C with a mean annual carbon sequestration of 1.5× 10^6 Mg C. The carbon density in the four sub-regions decreased in the following order： the Loess Plateau Sub-region, the North China Sub-region, the Northeast China Sub-region and the Inner Mongolia-Xinjiang Sub-region. The paucity of studies and data availability on the large-scale carbon sequestration of shrub species suggests this study provides a baseline reference for future research in this area.

Spatial-Temporal Changes of Soil Organic Carbon During Vegetation Recovery at Ziwuling, China

To probe the processes and mechanisms of soil organic carbon (SOC) changes during forest recovery, a 150-yearchronosequence study on SOC was conducted for various vegetation succession stages at the Ziwuling area, in the centralpart of the Loess Plateau, China. Results showed that during the 150 years of local vegetation rehabilitation SOC increasedsignificantly (P < 0.05) over time in the initial period of 55-59 years, but slightly decreased afterwards. Average SOCdensities for the 0-100 cm layer of farmland, grassland, shrubland and forest were 4.46, 5.05, 9.95, and 7.49 kg C m-3,respectively. The decrease in SOC from 60 to 150 years of abandonment implied that the soil carbon pool was a sink forCO2 before the shrubland stage and became a source in the later period. This change resulted from the spatially variedcomposition and structure of the vegetation. Vegetation recovery had a maximum effect on the surface (0-20 cm) SOCpool. It. was concluded that vegetation recovery on the Loess Plateau could result in significantly increased sequestrationof atmospheric CO2 in soil and vegetation, which was ecologically important for mitigating the increase of atmosphericconcentration of CO2 and for ameliorating the local eco-environment.

Biomass Carbon Sequestration by Planted Forests in China

The planted forest area and carbon sequestration have increased significantly in China,because of large-scale reforestation and afforestation in the past decades.In this study,we developed an age-based volume-to-biomass method to estimate the carbon storage by planted forests in China in the period of 1973-2003 based on the data from 1209 field plots and national forest inventories.The results show that the total carbon storage of planted forests was 0.7743 Pg C in 1999-2003,increased by 3.08 times since the early 1970s.The carbon density of planted forests varied from 10.6594 Mg/ha to 23.9760 Mg/ha and increased by 13.3166 Mg/ha from 1973-1976 to 1999-2003.Since the early 1970s,the planted forests in China have been always a carbon sink,and the annual rate of carbon sequestration was 0.0217 Pg C/yr.The carbon storage and densities of planted forests varied greatly in space and time.The carbon storage of Middle South China was in the lead in all regions,which accounted for 23%-36% of national carbon storage.While higher C densities (from 17.79 Mg/ha to 26.05 Mg/ha) were usually found in Northeast China.The planted forests in China potentially have a high carbon sequestration since a large part of them are becoming mature and afforestation continues to grow.

Estimation of Storage and Density of Organic Carbon in Peatlands of China

Based on the results of the National Survey of Peat Resources(1983-1985) and the investigation results on the peatlands of China,the storage and density of the organic carbon in the peatlands of China were estimated.The total organic carbon storage(OCS) of the peatlands in China,including bare peatlands and buried peatlands,are 1.503 × 109 t,unevenly distributed over 30 provincial level administrative units and 16 climatic zones.Peatland organic carbon storage(POCS) in Sichuan(6.45 × 108 t) and Yunnan provinces(2.91 × 108 t) is the highest,accounting for 62.29% of the total POCS.Humid zone of plateau has the highest POCS of 7.14 × 108 t,especially in the Zoigê Plateau,where the POCS is 6.30 × 108 t,accounting for 41.92% of the total POCS of China.The organic carbon density(OCD) of the peatlands in China mostly ranges from 80 kg/m3 to 140 kg/m3,and the range of the maximum is 270-360 kg/m3,and the minimum is less than 80 kg/m3.Divided by the Yanshan Mountain,Taihang Mountains and Hengduan Mountains,the peatland oganic carbon density(POCD) is lower on the northwestern side than that on the southeastern side.Jiangxi Province has the highest POCD due to the ancient buried peatlands.The OCD of the bare peatlands is mostly in the range of 60-150 kg/m3,and that of the buried peatlands is more than 100 kg/m3.In the bare peatlands,the OCD generally increases from the surface layer to the below surface layer,and then decreases with the depth.Although the peatlands area in China is small,the OCS per unit area is far higher than the other soil types,so peatlands protection can effectively mitigate climate change.

Effects of Rest Grazing on Organic Carbon Storage in Stipa grandis Steppe in Inner Mongolia, China

This study was aimed to evaluate the potential effects of rest grazing on organic carbon storage in Stipa grandis steppe of Inner Mongolia, China. Using potassium dichromate heating method, we analyzed the organic carbon storage of plant and soil in Stipa grand＆ steppe after rest grazing for 3, 6, and 9 yr. The results indicated that as the rest grazing ages prolonged, the biomass of aboveground parts, litter and belowground plant parts （roots） of the plant communities all increased, meanwhile the C content of the biomass increased with the rest grazing ages prolonging. For RG0, RG3a, RG6a, and RG9a, C storage in aboveground vegetation were 60.7, 76.9, 82.8 and 122.2 g C m2, respectively; C storage of litter were 5.1, 5.8, 20.4 and 25.5 g C m^-2, respectively; C storage of belowground roots （0-100 cm） were 475.2, 663.0, 1 115.0 and 1 867.3 g C m^-2, respectively; C storage in 0-100 cm soil were 13.97, 15.76, 18.60 and 32.41 kg C m^-2, respectively. As the rest grazing ages prolonged, the organic C storage in plant communities and soil increased. The C storage ofbelowground roots and soil organic C was mainly concentrated in 0-40 cm soil body. The increased soil organic C for RG3a accounted for 89.8% of the increased carbon in vegetation-soil system, 87.2% for RG6a, and 92.6% for RG9a. From the perspective of C sequestration cost, total cost for RG3a, RG6,, and RG9a were 2 903.4, 5 806.8 and 8 710.2 CNY haq, respectively. The cost reduced with the extension of rest grazing ages, 0.15 CNY kg^-1 C for RG3a, 0.11 CNY kg-~ C for RG6a and 0.04 CNY kg℃ for RG9a. From the growth characteristics of grassland plants, the spring was one of the two avoided grazing periods, timely rest grazing could effectively restore and update grassland vegetation, and was beneficial to the sustainable use of grassland. Organic C storage for RG9a was the highest, while the cost of C sequestration was the lowest. Therefore, spring rest grazing should be encouraged because it was proved to be a very efficient grassland use pattern.

Forest Carbon Storage and Tree Carbon Pool Dynamics under Natural Forest Protection Program in Northeastern China

The Natural Forest Protection(NFP) program is one of the Six Key Forestry Projects which were adopted by the Chinese Government since the 1980s to address important natural issues in China. It advanced to protecting and restoring the structures and functions of the natural forests through sustainable forest management. However, the role of forest carbon storage and tree carbon pool dynamics since the adoption of the NFP remains unknown. To address this knowledge gap, this study calculated forest carbon storage(tree, understory, forest floor and soil) in the forest region of northeastern(NE) China based on National Forest Inventory databases and field investigated databases. For tree biomass, this study utilized an improved method for biomass estimation that converts timber volume to total forest biomass; while for understory, forest floor and soil carbon storage, this study utilized forest type-specific mean carbon densities multiplied by their areas in the region. Results showed that the tree carbon pool under the NFP in NE China functioned as a carbon sink from 1998 to 2008, with an increase of 6.3 Tg C/yr, which was mainly sequestrated by natural forests(5.1 Tg C/yr). At the same time, plantations also acted as a carbon sink, reflecting an increase of 1.2 Tg C/yr. In 2008, total carbon storage in forests covered by the NFP in NE China was 4603.8 Tg C, of which 4393.3 Tg C was stored in natural forests and 210.5 Tg C in planted forests. Soil was the largest carbon storage component, contributing 69.5%–77.8% of total carbon storage; followed by tree and forest floor, accounting for 16.3%–23.0% and 5.0%–6.5% of total carbon storage, respectively. Understory carbon pool ranged from 1.9 to 42.7 Tg C, accounting for only 0.9% of total carbon storage.

Estimation of above-ground biomass and carbon stock of an invasive woody shrub in the subtropical deciduous forests of Doon Valley,western Himalaya,India

This study describes the different parameters used to derive the allometric equation for calculating the biomass of an invasive woody shrub Lantana camara L.from the subtropical conditions of western Himalaya.It identifies the most accurate and convenient method for biomass calculation by comparing destructive with nondestructive methodology.Different parameters were measured on a wide range of Lantana from different community levels for the non-destructive calculation of total aboveground biomass.Different explanatory variables were identified and measured such as basal diameter either as a single independent variable or in combination with plant height.The other suitable combinations of available independent variables include crown length,crown width,crown area,crown volume and coverage of the plant.Amongst the wide range of allometric equations used with different variables,the equation with D2 H as a variable was found to be the most suitable estimator of biomass calculation for Lantana.Sahastradhara,being the most disturbed area due to its high tourist activity round the year,showed maximum coverage（58.57 % ha-1）,highest biomass（13,559.60 kg ha-1） and carbon density（6,373.01 kg ha-1）of Lantana.The degree of Lantana’s invasiveness in subtropical conditions was also calculated on the basis of importance value index（IVI）.The maximum IVI（22.77）and mean coverage（26.8 % ha-1） was obtained from the areas near Jolly Grant airport,indicating that physically disturbed areas are more suitable for the growth of Lantana,which may significantly increase shrub biomass.The importance of incorporating allometric equations in calculation of shrub biomass,and its role in atmospheric carbon assimilation has thus been highlighted through the findings of this study.

Regional Differences and Characteristics of Soil Organic Carbon Density Between Dry Land and Paddy Field in China

Study on the regional characteristics of soil organic carbon （SOC） density in farmland will not only contribute greatly to the technique of soil productivity enhancement, but also give evidences of technique selection and policy making for carbon sequestration in soils. Based on the second national soil survey of China, the situation of SOC density in the plow layer of farmland was analyzed under different land use patterns. Results showed that SOC density in the plow layer was about 3.15 kg m^-2 in average ranging from 0.81 to 12.68 kg m^-2. The highest density was found in the southeastern region with an average of 3.63 kg ma, while the lowest occurring in the northwestern region with an average of 3.00 kg m^-2. The variation coefficient of SOC density in the plow layer of farmland was 57%, which was 35% lower than that of non-farmland soils. Compared to SOC density in the dry land, SOC density in paddy soils was 13% higher with a lower variation coefficient between different regions. In addition, the relationships between the climatic factors （annual average temperature and precipitation） and SOC density were lower in farmland than those in non-farmland soils, as well as lower in paddy soils than those in dry land of farmland. These results suggest that anthropogenic disturbances have great impacts on SOC density in farmland soils, especially in paddy soils, indicating that Chinese rice cropping may contribute greatly to the SOC stability and sequestration in paddy field.

Response of Artificial Grassland Carbon Stock to Management in Mountain Region of Southern Ningxia, China

Grassland is a major carbon sink in the terrestrial ecosystem. The dynamics of grassland carbon stock profoundly influence the global carbon cycle. In the published literatures so far, however, there are limited studies on the long-term dynamics and influential factors of grassland carbon stock, including soil organic carbon. In this study, spatial-temporal substitution method was applied to explore the characteristics of Medicago sativa L. （alfalfa） grassland biomass carbon and soil organic carbon density （SOCD） in a loess hilly region with different growing years and management patterns. The results demonstrated that alfalfa was the mono-dominant community during the cutting period （viz. 0-10 year）. Community succession began after the abandonment of alfalfa grassland and then the important value of alfalfa in the community declined. The artificial alfalfa community abandoned for 30 years was replaced by the S. bungeana community. Accordingly, the biomass carbon density of the clipped alfalfa showed a significant increase over the time during 0-10 year. During 0-30 year, the SOCD from 0-100 cm of the soil layer of all 5 management patterns increased over time with a range between 5.300 ± 0.981 kg/m2 and 12.578 ± 0.863 kg/m2. The sloping croplands had the lowest SOCD at 5.300 ± 0.981 kg/m2 which was quite different from the abandoned grasslands growing for 30 years which exhibited the highest SOCD with 12.578 ± 0.863 kg/m2. The ecosystem carbon density of the grassland clipped for 2 years increased 0.1 kg/m2 compared with the sloping cropland, while that of the grassland clipped for 10 years substantially increased to 10.30 ± 1.26 kg/m2. Moreover, the ecosystem carbon density for abandoned grassland became 12.62± 0.50 kg/m2 at 30 years. The carbon density of the grassland undisturbed for l0 years was similar to that of the sloping cropland and the grassland clipped for 2 years. Different management patterns imposed great different effects on the accumulation of biomass carbon on artificial grasslands, whereas the ecosystem carbon density of the grassland showed a slight increase from the clipping to abandonment of grassland in general.

Forest biomass carbon storage from multiple inventories over the past 30 years in Gansu Province, China: implications from the age structure of major forest types

We used the forest inventory data of Gansu Province, China to quantify carbon storage and carbon density changes by regional forest cover and by typical forest types in 1979-2006. Total forest area increased from 1.77 x 106 ha in 1979 to 2.32 x 106 ha in 2006, and the forest carbon storage, estimated by the continuous biomass expansion factor method, increased from 83.14 to 100.66 Tg, equivalent to a carbon accumulation rate of 0.0071 Tg per year during the period. Mean carbon densities were 44.83-48.50 t ha-1 and the values decreased slightly over the time period. Natural forests generated greater car- bon storage and density than did plantations. By regression analysis, forest stand age was an important parameter incarbon density studies. We developed various regression equations between carbon density and stand age for major types of natural forests and plantations in the region. Our results can be used for proper selection of re-forestation species and efficient management of young and middle-aged forests, offering great potential for future carbon sequestra- tion, especially in arid and semi-arid regions.

Spatial analysis of carbon storage density of mid-subtropical forests using geostatistics： a case study in Jiangle County, southeast China

The mid-subtropical forest is one of the biggest sections of subtropical forest in China and plays a vital role in mitigating climate change by sequestering carbon.Studies have examined carbon storage density(CSD) distribution in temperate forests. However, our knowledge of CSD in subtropical forests is limited. In this study, Jiangle County was selected as a study case to explore geographic variation in CSD. A spatial heterogeneity analysis by semivariogram revealed that CSD varied at less than the mesoscale(approximately 2000–3000 m). CSD distribution mapped using Kriging regression revealed an increasing trend in CSD from west to east of the study area.Global spatial autocorrelation analysis indicated that CSD was clustered at the village level(at 5% significance).Some areas with local spatial autocorrelation were detected by Anselin Local Moran's I and Getis-Ord G*. A geographically weighted regression model showed different impacts on the different areas for each determinant. Generally, diameter at breast height, tree height, and stand density had positive correlation with CSD in Jiangle County, but varied substantially in magnitude by location.In contrast, coefficients of elevation and slope ranged from negative to positive. Based on these results, we propose certain measures to increase forest carbon storage,including increasing forested area, improving the quality of the current forests, and promoting reasonable forest management decisions and harvesting strategies. The established CSD model emphasizes the important role of midsubtropical forest in carbon sequestration and provides useful information for quantifying mid-subtropical forest carbon storage.

Carbon sequestration of plantation in Beijing-Tianjin sand source areas

The Beijing-Tianjin Sand Source Control Project(BTSSCP), a national ecological restoration project, was launched to construct an ecological protection system in the Beijing-Tianjin sand source areas to reduce dust hazards. The carbon sequestration dynamics can be used to assess the ecological effects of an ecological restoration project. Here, we conducted vegetation and soil study to assess the carbon sequestration in the plantations with 10 years old stands in Beijing-Tianjin sand source areas. The results at the site scales indicated that the average net increase of plantation ecosystem carbon stock was 33.8 Mg C ha^(-1), with an annual increase rate of 3.38 Mg C ha^(-1) yr^(-1). The average net increase of carbon varied among regions, vegetation types, and forest management activities. Soil bulk density in the top soil decreased slightly after 10-year implementation of the project. Coniferous forests and shrubs are suitable plant species for sand source areas.Natural restoration in the plantations is a practical and feasible and promising approach for enhancing ecosystem carbon sequestration potential.

Active organic carbon pool of coniferous and broad-leaved forest soils in the mountainous areas of Beijing

In order to explore the effects of different forest types on active soil carbon pool, the amounts and density of soil organic carbon （SOC） were studied at different soil horizons under typical coniferous and broad-leaved forests in the mountainous area of Beijing. The results showed that the amount of total SOC, readily oxidizable carbon and particulate organic carbon decreased with increasing depths of soil horizons and the amounts at depths of 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm in broad-leaved forest was clearly higher than that in coniferous forests. The trend of a decrease in SOC density with increasing depth of the soil horizon was similar to that of the amount of SOC. However, no regular trend was found for SOC density at different depths between coniferous forest and broad-leaved forests. The ratio of readily oxidizable carbon to total amount of SOC ranged from 0.36-0.45 and the ratio of particulate organic carbon to total amount of SOC from 0.28-0.73; the ratios decreased with increasing depths of soil horizons. Active SOC was significantly correlated with total SOC; the relationship between readily oxidizable carbon and particulate organic carbon was significant. A broad-leaved forest may produce more SOC than a coniferous forest.

Effects of Forest Type and Urbanization on Carbon Storage of Urban Forests in Changchun, Northeast China

Rapid urbanization has led to dramatic changes in urban forest structures and functions, and consequently affects carbon(C) storage in cities. In this study, field surveys were combined with high resolution images to investigate the variability of C storage of urban forests in Changchun, Northeast China. The main objectives of this study were to quantify the C storage of urban forests in Changchun City, Northeast China and understand the effects of forest type and urbanization on C storage of urban forests. The results showed that the mean C density and the total C storage of urban forests in Changchun were 4.41 kg/m2 and 4.74 × 108 kg, respectively. There were significant differences in C density among urban forest types. Landscape and relaxation forest(LF) had the highest C density with 5.41 kg/m2, while production and management forest(PF) had the lowest C density with 1.46 kg/m2. These differences demonstrate that urban forest type is an important factor needed to be considered when the C storage is accurately estimated. Further findings revealed significant differences in different gradients of urbanization, and the mean C density decreased from the first ring(6.99 kg/m2) to the fourth ring(2.87 kg/m2). The total C storage increased from the first ring to the third ring. These results indicate that C storage by urban forests will be significantly changed during the process of urbanization. The results can provide insights for decision-makers and urban planners to better understand the effects of forest type and urbanization on C storage of urban forests in Changchun, and make better management plans for urban forests.

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

There are many uncertainties in the estimation of forest carbon sequestration in China, especially in Liaoning Province where various 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 storage of young- and middle-aged forests increased by 22.1 Tg C and 5.95 Tg C, but that of mature forests has decreased by 0.25 Tg C. The carbon stock and density of forests in Liaon- ing Province varied greatly in space： larger carbon storage and higher carbon density were primarily found in the east area. The spatial distribution of carbon density was determined by many factors, of which human activities played an important role. The forests in Liaoning Province played a positive role as a sink of atmospheric carbon dioxide. The carbon fixation ability of forests in this area was primarily derived from forest plantation and the total forest carbon sequestration can be enhanced by expanding young- and middle-aged forests.

Assessing spatiotemporal variations of forest carbon density using bi-temporal discrete aerial laser scanning data in Chinese boreal forests

Assessing the changes in forest carbon stocks over time is critical for monitoring carbon dynamics,estimating the balance between carbon uptake and release from forests,and providing key insights into climate change mitigation.In this study,we quantitatively characterized spatiotemporal variations in aboveground carbon density(ACD)in boreal natural forests in the Greater Khingan Mountains(GKM)region using bi-temporal discrete aerial laser scanning(ALS)data acquired in 2012 and 2016.Moreover,we evaluated the transferability of the proposed design model using forest field plot data and produced a wall-to-wall map of ACD changes for the entire study area from 2012 to 2016 at a grid size of 30 m.In addition,we investigated the relationships between carbon dynamics and the dominant tree species,age groups,and topography of undisturbed forested areas to better understand ACD variations by employing heterogeneous forest canopy structural characteristics.The results showed that the performance of the temporally transferable model(R^(2)=0.87,rRMSE=18.25%),which included stable variables,was statistically equivalent to that obtained from the model fitted directly by the 2016 field plots(R^(2)=0.87,rRMSE=17.47%).The average rate of change in carbon sequestration across the entire study region was 1.35 Mg⋅ha^(-1)⋅year^(-1) based on the changes in ALS-based ACD values over the course of four years.The relative change rates of ACD decreased as the elevation increased,with the highest and lowest ACD growth rates occurring in the middle-aged and mature forest stands,respectively.The Gini coefficient,which represents forest canopy surface structure heterogeneity,is sensitive to carbon dynamics and is a reliable predictor of the relative change rate of ACD.This study demonstrated the applicability of bi-temporal ALS for predicting forest carbon dynamics and fine-scale spatial change patterns.Our research contributed to a better understanding of the in-fluence of remote sensing-derived environmental variables on forest carbon dynamic patterns and the development of context-specific management approaches to increase forest carbon stocks.