1
|
Smeaton C, Garrett E, Koot MB, Ladd CJT, Miller LC, McMahon L, Foster B, Barlow NLM, Blake W, Gehrels WR, Skov MW, Austin WEN. Organic carbon accumulation in British saltmarshes. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 926:172104. [PMID: 38556016 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Saltmarshes are a crucial component of the coastal carbon (C) system and provide a natural climate regulation service through the accumulation and long-term storage of organic carbon (OC) in their soils. These coastal ecosystems are under growing pressure from a changing climate and increasing anthropogenic disturbance. To manage and protect these ecosystems for C and to allow their inclusion in emissions and natural-capital accounting, as well as carbon markets, accurate and reliable estimates of OC accumulation are required. However, globally, such data are rare or of varying quality. Here, we quantify sedimentation rates and OC densities for 21 saltmarshes in Great Britain (GB). We estimate that, on average, saltmarshes accumulate OC at a rate of 110.88 ± 43.12 g C m-2 yr-1. This is considerably less than widely applied global saltmarsh averages. It is therefore highly likely that the contribution of northern European saltmarshes to global saltmarsh OC accumulation has been significantly overestimated. Taking account of the climatic, geomorphological, oceanographic, and ecological characteristics of all GB saltmarshes and the areal extent of different saltmarsh zones, we estimate that the 451.65 km2 of GB saltmarsh accumulates 46,563 ± 4353 t of OC annually. These low OC accumulation rates underline the importance of the 5.20 ± 0.65 million tonnes of OC already stored in these vulnerable coastal ecosystems. Going forward the protection and preservation of the existing stores of OC in GB saltmarshes must be a priority for the UK as this will provide climate benefits through avoided emissions several times more significant than the annual accumulation of OC in these ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Craig Smeaton
- School of Geography and Sustainable Development, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United Kingdom.
| | - Ed Garrett
- Department of Environment and Geography, Wentworth Way, University of York, York, United Kingdom.
| | - Martha B Koot
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | - Cai J T Ladd
- School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics, University of Swansea, Swansea, United Kingdom; School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, United Kingdom
| | - Lucy C Miller
- School of Geography and Sustainable Development, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - Lucy McMahon
- Department of Environment and Geography, Wentworth Way, University of York, York, United Kingdom; Department of Natural Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Bradley Foster
- Department of Environment and Geography, Wentworth Way, University of York, York, United Kingdom
| | - Natasha L M Barlow
- School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - William Blake
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | - W Roland Gehrels
- Department of Environment and Geography, Wentworth Way, University of York, York, United Kingdom
| | - Martin W Skov
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, United Kingdom
| | - William E N Austin
- School of Geography and Sustainable Development, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United Kingdom; Scottish Association of Marine Science, Oban, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Heinrich V, House J, Gibbs DA, Harris N, Herold M, Grassi G, Cantinho R, Rosan TM, Zimbres B, Shimbo JZ, Melo J, Hales T, Sitch S, Aragão LEOC. Mind the gap: reconciling tropical forest carbon flux estimates from earth observation and national reporting requires transparency. CARBON BALANCE AND MANAGEMENT 2023; 18:22. [PMID: 37982938 PMCID: PMC10662451 DOI: 10.1186/s13021-023-00240-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The application of different approaches calculating the anthropogenic carbon net flux from land, leads to estimates that vary considerably. One reason for these variations is the extent to which approaches consider forest land to be "managed" by humans, and thus contributing to the net anthropogenic flux. Global Earth Observation (EO) datasets characterising spatio-temporal changes in land cover and carbon stocks provide an independent and consistent approach to estimate forest carbon fluxes. These can be compared against results reported in National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (NGHGIs) to support accurate and timely measuring, reporting and verification (MRV). Using Brazil as a primary case study, with additional analysis in Indonesia and Malaysia, we compare a Global EO-based dataset of forest carbon fluxes to results reported in NGHGIs. RESULTS Between 2001 and 2020, the EO-derived estimates of all forest-related emissions and removals indicate that Brazil was a net sink of carbon (- 0.2 GtCO2yr-1), while Brazil's NGHGI reported a net carbon source (+ 0.8 GtCO2yr-1). After adjusting the EO estimate to use the Brazilian NGHGI definition of managed forest and other assumptions used in the inventory's methodology, the EO net flux became a source of + 0.6 GtCO2yr-1, comparable to the NGHGI. Remaining discrepancies are due largely to differing carbon removal factors and forest types applied in the two datasets. In Indonesia, the EO and NGHGI net flux estimates were similar (+ 0.6 GtCO2 yr-1), but in Malaysia, they differed in both magnitude and sign (NGHGI: -0.2 GtCO2 yr-1; Global EO: + 0.2 GtCO2 yr-1). Spatially explicit datasets on forest types were not publicly available for analysis from either NGHGI, limiting the possibility of detailed adjustments. CONCLUSIONS By adjusting the EO dataset to improve comparability with carbon fluxes estimated for managed forests in the Brazilian NGHGI, initially diverging estimates were largely reconciled and remaining differences can be explained. Despite limited spatial data available for Indonesia and Malaysia, our comparison indicated specific aspects where differing approaches may explain divergence, including uncertainties and inaccuracies. Our study highlights the importance of enhanced transparency, as set out by the Paris Agreement, to enable alignment between different approaches for independent measuring and verification.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Viola Heinrich
- School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
- Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
- Section 1.4 Remote Sensing and Geoinformatics, Helmholtz GFZ German Research Centre of Geosciences, Telegrafenberg, Potsdam, Germany.
| | - Jo House
- School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | | | | | - Martin Herold
- Section 1.4 Remote Sensing and Geoinformatics, Helmholtz GFZ German Research Centre of Geosciences, Telegrafenberg, Potsdam, Germany
- Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Giacomo Grassi
- Joint Research Centre, European Commission, Ispra, Italy
| | - Roberta Cantinho
- Centre for Sustainable Development (CDS), University of Brasília (UnB), Brasília, Brazil
| | - Thais M Rosan
- Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Barbara Zimbres
- Amazon Environmental Research Institute (IPAM), Brasília, Brazil
| | - Julia Z Shimbo
- Amazon Environmental Research Institute (IPAM), Brasília, Brazil
| | - Joana Melo
- Joint Research Centre, European Commission, Ispra, Italy
| | - Tristram Hales
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Stephen Sitch
- Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Luiz E O C Aragão
- Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
- Earth Observation and Geoinformatics Division, National Institute for Space Research (INPE), São José Dos Campos, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Phillips OL. Sensing Forests Directly: The Power of Permanent Plots. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:3710. [PMID: 37960066 PMCID: PMC10648163 DOI: 10.3390/plants12213710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
The need to measure, monitor, and understand our living planet is greater than ever. Yet, while many technologies are applied to tackle this need, one developed in the 19th century is transforming tropical ecology. Permanent plots, in which forests are directly sensed tree-by-tree and species-by-species, already provide a global public good. They could make greater contributions still by unlocking our potential to understand future ecological change, as the more that computational and remote technologies are deployed the greater the need to ground them with direct observations and the physical, nature-based skills of those who make them. To achieve this requires building profound connections with forests and disadvantaged communities and sustaining these over time. Many of the greatest needs and opportunities in tropical forest science are therefore not to be found in space or in silico, but in vivo, with the people, places and plots who experience nature directly. These are fundamental to understanding the health, predicting the future, and exploring the potential of Earth's richest ecosystems. Now is the time to invest in the tropical field research communities who make so much possible.
Collapse
|
4
|
Requena Suarez D, Rozendaal DMA, De Sy V, Decuyper M, Málaga N, Durán Montesinos P, Arana Olivos A, De la Cruz Paiva R, Martius C, Herold M. Forest disturbance and recovery in Peruvian Amazonia. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:3601-3621. [PMID: 36997337 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Amazonian forests function as biomass and biodiversity reservoirs, contributing to climate change mitigation. While they continuously experience disturbance, the effect that disturbances have on biomass and biodiversity over time has not yet been assessed at a large scale. Here, we evaluate the degree of recent forest disturbance in Peruvian Amazonia and the effects that disturbance, environmental conditions and human use have on biomass and biodiversity in disturbed forests. We integrate tree-level data on aboveground biomass (AGB) and species richness from 1840 forest plots from Peru's National Forest Inventory with remotely sensed monitoring of forest change dynamics, based on disturbances detected from Landsat-derived Normalized Difference Moisture Index time series. Our results show a clear negative effect of disturbance intensity tree species richness. This effect was also observed on AGB and species richness recovery values towards undisturbed levels, as well as on the recovery of species composition towards undisturbed levels. Time since disturbance had a larger effect on AGB than on species richness. While time since disturbance has a positive effect on AGB, unexpectedly we found a small negative effect of time since disturbance on species richness. We estimate that roughly 15% of Peruvian Amazonian forests have experienced disturbance at least once since 1984, and that, following disturbance, have been increasing in AGB at a rate of 4.7 Mg ha-1 year-1 during the first 20 years. Furthermore, the positive effect of surrounding forest cover was evident for both AGB and its recovery towards undisturbed levels, as well as for species richness. There was a negative effect of forest accessibility on the recovery of species composition towards undisturbed levels. Moving forward, we recommend that forest-based climate change mitigation endeavours consider forest disturbance through the integration of forest inventory data with remote sensing methods.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Requena Suarez
- Laboratory of Geo-Information Science and Remote Sensing, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Danaë M A Rozendaal
- Plant Production Systems Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Centre for Crop Systems Analysis, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Veronique De Sy
- Laboratory of Geo-Information Science and Remote Sensing, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Mathieu Decuyper
- Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Centre for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Natalia Málaga
- Laboratory of Geo-Information Science and Remote Sensing, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Patricia Durán Montesinos
- Servicio Nacional Forestal y de Fauna Silvestre (SERFOR), Ministerio de Desarrollo Agrario y Riego (MIDAGRI), Lima, Peru
| | - Alexs Arana Olivos
- Servicio Nacional Forestal y de Fauna Silvestre (SERFOR), Ministerio de Desarrollo Agrario y Riego (MIDAGRI), Lima, Peru
| | - Ricardo De la Cruz Paiva
- Servicio Nacional Forestal y de Fauna Silvestre (SERFOR), Ministerio de Desarrollo Agrario y Riego (MIDAGRI), Lima, Peru
| | - Christopher Martius
- Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) Germany gGmbH, Bonn, Germany
| | - Martin Herold
- Laboratory of Geo-Information Science and Remote Sensing, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Section 1.4 Remote Sensing and Geoinformatics, Helmholtz Center Potsdam GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Zuleta D, Arellano G, McMahon SM, Aguilar S, Bunyavejchewin S, Castaño N, Chang-Yang CH, Duque A, Mitre D, Nasardin M, Pérez R, Sun IF, Yao TL, Valencia R, Krishna Moorthy SM, Verbeeck H, Davies SJ. Damage to living trees contributes to almost half of the biomass losses in tropical forests. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:3409-3420. [PMID: 36938951 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Accurate estimates of forest biomass stocks and fluxes are needed to quantify global carbon budgets and assess the response of forests to climate change. However, most forest inventories consider tree mortality as the only aboveground biomass (AGB) loss without accounting for losses via damage to living trees: branchfall, trunk breakage, and wood decay. Here, we use ~151,000 annual records of tree survival and structural completeness to compare AGB loss via damage to living trees to total AGB loss (mortality + damage) in seven tropical forests widely distributed across environmental conditions. We find that 42% (3.62 Mg ha-1 year-1 ; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.36-5.25) of total AGB loss (8.72 Mg ha-1 year-1 ; CI 5.57-12.86) is due to damage to living trees. Total AGB loss was highly variable among forests, but these differences were mainly caused by site variability in damage-related AGB losses rather than by mortality-related AGB losses. We show that conventional forest inventories overestimate stand-level AGB stocks by 4% (1%-17% range across forests) because assume structurally complete trees, underestimate total AGB loss by 29% (6%-57% range across forests) due to overlooked damage-related AGB losses, and overestimate AGB loss via mortality by 22% (7%-80% range across forests) because of the assumption that trees are undamaged before dying. Our results indicate that forest carbon fluxes are higher than previously thought. Damage on living trees is an underappreciated component of the forest carbon cycle that is likely to become even more important as the frequency and severity of forest disturbances increase.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Zuleta
- Forest Global Earth Observatory, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Gabriel Arellano
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Oikobit LLC, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Sean M McMahon
- Forest Global Earth Observatory, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, Maryland, 21037, USA
| | - Salomón Aguilar
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, República de Panamá
| | - Sarayudh Bunyavejchewin
- Department of National Parks, Forest Research Office, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Nicolas Castaño
- Herbario Amazónico Colombiano, Instituto Amazónico de Investigaciones Científicas Sinchi, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Chia-Hao Chang-Yang
- Department of Biological Sciences, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, 80424, Taiwan
| | - Alvaro Duque
- Departamento de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia Sede Medellín, Medellín, Colombia
| | - David Mitre
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, República de Panamá
| | - Musalmah Nasardin
- Forestry and Environment Division, Forest Research Institute Malaysia, 52109, Kepong, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Rolando Pérez
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, República de Panamá
| | - I-Fang Sun
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Ecology and Sustainability, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien, 94701, Taiwan
| | - Tze Leong Yao
- Forestry and Environment Division, Forest Research Institute Malaysia, 52109, Kepong, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Renato Valencia
- Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Sruthi M Krishna Moorthy
- Department of Geographical Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
- Department of Environment, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Hans Verbeeck
- Department of Environment, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Stuart J Davies
- Forest Global Earth Observatory, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Bordin KM, Esquivel-Muelbert A, Klipel J, Picolotto RC, Bergamin RS, da Silva AC, Higuchi P, Capellesso ES, Marques MCM, Souza AF, Müller SC. No relationship between biodiversity and forest carbon sink across the subtropical Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Perspect Ecol Conserv 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pecon.2023.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
|
7
|
Heinrich VHA, Vancutsem C, Dalagnol R, Rosan TM, Fawcett D, Silva-Junior CHL, Cassol HLG, Achard F, Jucker T, Silva CA, House J, Sitch S, Hales TC, Aragão LEOC. The carbon sink of secondary and degraded humid tropical forests. Nature 2023; 615:436-442. [PMID: 36922608 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05679-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
The globally important carbon sink of intact, old-growth tropical humid forests is declining because of climate change, deforestation and degradation from fire and logging1-3. Recovering tropical secondary and degraded forests now cover about 10% of the tropical forest area4, but how much carbon they accumulate remains uncertain. Here we quantify the aboveground carbon (AGC) sink of recovering forests across three main continuous tropical humid regions: the Amazon, Borneo and Central Africa5,6. On the basis of satellite data products4,7, our analysis encompasses the heterogeneous spatial and temporal patterns of growth in degraded and secondary forests, influenced by key environmental and anthropogenic drivers. In the first 20 years of recovery, regrowth rates in Borneo were up to 45% and 58% higher than in Central Africa and the Amazon, respectively. This is due to variables such as temperature, water deficit and disturbance regimes. We find that regrowing degraded and secondary forests accumulated 107 Tg C year-1 (90-130 Tg C year-1) between 1984 and 2018, counterbalancing 26% (21-34%) of carbon emissions from humid tropical forest loss during the same period. Protecting old-growth forests is therefore a priority. Furthermore, we estimate that conserving recovering degraded and secondary forests can have a feasible future carbon sink potential of 53 Tg C year-1 (44-62 Tg C year-1) across the main tropical regions studied.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Viola H A Heinrich
- School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
- Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
| | - Christelle Vancutsem
- Fincons Group, Milan, Italy
- Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Bogor, Indonesia
| | - Ricardo Dalagnol
- Earth Observation and Geoinformatics Division, National Institute for Space Research (INPE), São José dos Campos, Brazil
- Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, USA
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Thais M Rosan
- Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Dominic Fawcett
- Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Celso H L Silva-Junior
- Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, USA
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biodiversidade e Conservação, Universidade Federal do Maranhão (UFMA), São Luís, Brazil
| | - Henrique L G Cassol
- Earth Observation and Geoinformatics Division, National Institute for Space Research (INPE), São José dos Campos, Brazil
- School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Tommaso Jucker
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Carlos A Silva
- Forest Biometrics and Remote Sensing Lab (Silva Lab), School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Jo House
- School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Stephen Sitch
- Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Tristram C Hales
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Luiz E O C Aragão
- Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
- Earth Observation and Geoinformatics Division, National Institute for Space Research (INPE), São José dos Campos, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Labrière N, Davies SJ, Disney MI, Duncanson LI, Herold M, Lewis SL, Phillips OL, Quegan S, Saatchi SS, Schepaschenko DG, Scipal K, Sist P, Chave J. Toward a forest biomass reference measurement system for remote sensing applications. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:827-840. [PMID: 36270799 PMCID: PMC10099565 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Forests contribute to climate change mitigation through carbon storage and uptake, but the extent to which this carbon pool varies in space and time is still poorly known. Several Earth Observation missions have been specifically designed to address this issue, for example, NASA's GEDI, NASA-ISRO's NISAR and ESA's BIOMASS. Yet, all these missions' products require independent and consistent validation. A permanent, global, in situ, site-based forest biomass reference measurement system relying on ground data of the highest possible quality is therefore needed. Here, we have assembled a list of almost 200 high-quality sites through an in-depth review of the literature and expert knowledge. In this study, we explore how representative these sites are in terms of their coverage of environmental conditions, geographical space and biomass-related forest structure, compared to those experienced by forests worldwide. This work also aims at identifying which sites are the most representative, and where to invest to improve the representativeness of the proposed system. We show that the environmental coverage of the system does not seem to improve after at least the 175 most representative sites are included, but geographical and structural coverages continue to improve as more sites are added. We highlight the areas of poor environmental, geographical, or structural coverage, including, but not limited to, Canada, the western half of the USA, Mexico, Patagonia, Angola, Zambia, eastern Russia, and tropical and subtropical highlands (e.g. in Colombia, the Himalayas, Borneo, Papua). For the proposed system to succeed, we stress that (1) data must be collected and processed applying the same standards across all countries and continents; (2) system establishment and management must be inclusive and equitable, with careful consideration of working conditions; and (3) training and site partner involvement in downstream activities should be mandatory.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Labrière
- Evolution and Biological Diversity (EDB)CNRS/IRD/UPSToulouseFrance
| | - Stuart J. Davies
- Forest Global Earth ObservatorySmithsonian Tropical Research InstituteWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUSA
| | - Mathias I. Disney
- Department of GeographyUniversity College London (UCL)LondonUK
- NERC National Centre for Earth Observation (NCEO)LondonUK
| | - Laura I. Duncanson
- Department of Geographical SciencesUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkMarylandUSA
| | - Martin Herold
- GFZ German Research Centre for GeosciencesPotsdamBrandenburgGermany
| | - Simon L. Lewis
- Department of GeographyUniversity College London (UCL)LondonUK
- School of GeographyUniversity of LeedsLeedsUK
| | | | - Shaun Quegan
- School of Mathematics and StatisticsUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | - Sassan S. Saatchi
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)California Institute of TechnologyPasadenaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Dmitry G. Schepaschenko
- International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)LaxenburgAustria
- Center for Forest Ecology and Productivity of the Russian Academy of SciencesMoscowRussia
| | | | | | - Jérôme Chave
- Evolution and Biological Diversity (EDB)CNRS/IRD/UPSToulouseFrance
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Wu Y, Peng B, Lao Y. The Emission Reduction Effect of Financial Agglomeration under China's Carbon Peak and Neutrality Goals. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:950. [PMID: 36673706 PMCID: PMC9858971 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20020950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The existing literature on the influencing factors of carbon emissions ignores the relationship between financial agglomeration and carbon emissions. Based on the analysis of the emission reduction history of major countries, this paper mainly uses the provincial-level data of China from 2002 to 2018 to explore the impact of financial agglomeration on carbon emissions. The conclusions are as follows: (1) China lacks carbon tax policies; there are many drawbacks in the carbon trading market, and a "bottom-up" voluntary emission reduction mechanism has not been formed. (2) China's carbon emissions and financial development are characterized by spatial agglomeration. (3) Financial agglomeration can reduce carbon emissions. In central China, the low-carbon region, and the pilot regions for carbon trading, financial agglomeration has a greater impact on reducing emissions. (4) Financial agglomeration can reduce emissions by reducing the proportion of the secondary industry and increasing the proportion of the third industry. (5) Financial agglomeration can still lower carbon emissions when the spacing effect is taken into account. Finally, according to the conclusion, this paper puts forward relevant suggestions to help China reduce carbon emissions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Wu
- School of Economics & Management, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Biyu Peng
- School of Economics & Management, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yehui Lao
- College of Economy and Trade, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou 510225, China
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Liu B, Bu W, Zang R. Improved allometric models to estimate the aboveground biomass of younger secondary tropical forests. Glob Ecol Conserv 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
|
11
|
Rates and drivers of aboveground carbon accumulation in global monoculture plantation forests. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4206. [PMID: 35902561 PMCID: PMC9334591 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31380-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Restoring forest cover is a key action for mitigating climate change. Although monoculture plantations dominate existing commitments to restore forest cover, we lack a synthetic view of how carbon accumulates in these systems. Here, we assemble a global database of 4756 field-plot measurements from monoculture plantations across all forested continents. With these data, we model carbon accumulation in aboveground live tree biomass and examine the biological, environmental, and human drivers that influence this growth. Our results identify four-fold variation in carbon accumulation rates across tree genera, plant functional types, and biomes, as well as the key mediators (e.g., genus of tree, endemism of species, prior land use) of variation in these rates. Our nonlinear growth models advance our understanding of carbon accumulation in forests relative to mean annual rates, particularly during the next few decades that are critical for mitigating climate change. Tree planting is a promising yet controversial natural climate solution. Here the authors perform a global analysis of aboveground C accumulation in tree monocultures, identifying key predictors such as prior land use, taxonomic identity, and plant traits.
Collapse
|
12
|
Mapping the Spatial Distribution of Fern Thickets and Vine-Laden Forests in the Landscape of Bornean Logged-Over Tropical Secondary Rainforests. REMOTE SENSING 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/rs14143354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Forest degradation has been most frequently defined as an anthropogenic reduction in biomass compared with reference biomass in extant forests. However, so-defined “degraded forests” may widely vary in terms of recoverability. A prolonged loss of recoverability, commonly described as a loss of resilience, poses a true threat to global environments. In Bornean logged-over forests, dense thickets of ferns and vines have been observed to cause arrested secondary succession, and their area may indicate the extent of slow biomass recovery. Therefore, we aimed to discriminate the fern thickets and vine-laden forests from those logged-over forests without dense ferns and vines, as well as mapping their distributions, with the aid of Landsat-8 satellite imagery and machine learning modeling. During the process, we tested whether the gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) textures of Landsat data and Sentinel-1 C-band SAR data were helpful for this classification. Our study sites were Deramakot and Tangkulap Forest Reserves—commercial production forests in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. First, we flew drones and obtained aerial images that were used as ground truth for the supervised classification. Subsequently, a machine-learning model with a gradient-boosting decision tree was iteratively tested in order to derive the best model for the classification of the vegetation. Finally, the best model was extrapolated to the entire forest reserve and used to map three classes of vegetation (fern thickets, vine-laden forests, and logged-over forests without ferns and vines) and two non-vegetation classes (bare soil and open water). The overall classification accuracy of the best model was 86.6%; however, by combining the fern and vine classes into the same category, the accuracy was improved to 91.5%. The GLCM texture variables were especially effective at separating fern/vine vegetation from the non-degraded forest, but the SAR data showed a limited effect. Our final vegetation map showed that 30.7% of the reserves were occupied by ferns or vines, which may lead to arrested succession. Considering that our study site was once certified as a well-managed forest, the area of degraded forests with a high risk of loss of resilience is expected to be much broader in other Bornean production forests.
Collapse
|
13
|
Jian Z, Ni Y, Lei L, Xu J, Xiao W, Zeng L. Phosphorus is the key soil indicator controlling productivity in planted Masson pine forests across subtropical China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 822:153525. [PMID: 35104531 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Soil physiochemical properties are critical to understanding forest productivity and carbon (C) finance schemes in terrestrial ecosystems. However, few studies have focused on the effects of the soil physiochemical properties on the productivity in planted forests. This study was therefore conducted at 113 sampling plots located in planted Masson pine forests across subtropical China to test what and how the aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) would be explained by the soil physiochemical properties, stand attributes, and functional traits using regression analysis and structural equation modelling (SEM). Across subtropical China, the ANPP ranged from 1.79 to 14.04 Mg ha-1 year-1 among the plots, with an average value of 6.05 Mg ha-1 year-1. The variations in ANPP were positively related to the stand density, root phosphorus (P) content and soil total P content but were negatively related to the stand age, root C:P and N:P ratios. Among these factors, the combined effects of stand density, stand age and soil total P content explained 35% of the ANPP variations. The SEM results showed the indirect effect of the soil total P content via the root P content and C:P ratio on the ANPP and indirect effects of other soil properties (e.g., pH, clay, and bulk density) via the soil total P content and root functional traits (e.g., root P, C:P, and N:P) on the ANPP. By considering all possible variables and paths, the best-fitting SEM explained only 11-13% of the ANPP variations, which suggested that other factors may be more important in determining the productivity in planted forests. Overall, this study highlights that soil total P content should be used as a key soil indicator for determining the ANPP in planted Masson pine forests across subtropical China, and suggests that the root functional traits mediate the effects of soil properties on the ANPP.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zunji Jian
- Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Nature Conservation, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing, China
| | - Yanyan Ni
- Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Nature Conservation, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Lei
- Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Nature Conservation, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing, China
| | - Jin Xu
- Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Nature Conservation, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing, China
| | - Wenfa Xiao
- Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Nature Conservation, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing, China
| | - Lixiong Zeng
- Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Nature Conservation, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing, China.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Lefebvre D, Williams AG, Kirk GJD, Paul, Burgess J, Meersmans J, Silman MR, Román-Dañobeytia F, Farfan J, Smith P. Assessing the carbon capture potential of a reforestation project. Sci Rep 2021; 11:19907. [PMID: 34620924 PMCID: PMC8497602 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-99395-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The number of reforestation projects worldwide is increasing. In many cases funding is obtained through the claimed carbon capture of the trees, presented as immediate and durable, whereas reforested plots need time and maintenance to realise their carbon capture potential. Further, claims usually overlook the environmental costs of natural or anthropogenic disturbances during the forest’s lifetime, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the reforestation are not allowed for. This study uses life cycle assessment to quantify the carbon footprint of setting up a reforestation plot in the Peruvian Amazon. In parallel, we combine a soil carbon model with an above- and below-ground plant carbon model to predict the increase in carbon stocks after planting. We compare our results with the carbon capture claims made by a reforestation platform. Our results show major errors in carbon accounting in reforestation projects if they (1) ignore the time needed for trees to reach their carbon capture potential; (2) ignore the GHG emissions involved in setting up a plot; (3) report the carbon capture potential per tree planted, thereby ignoring limitations at the forest ecosystem level; or (4) under-estimate tree losses due to inevitable human and climatic disturbances. Further, we show that applications of biochar during reforestation can partially compensate for project emissions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David Lefebvre
- School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Cranfield, MK43 0AL, Bedfordshire, UK.
| | - Adrian G Williams
- School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Cranfield, MK43 0AL, Bedfordshire, UK
| | - Guy J D Kirk
- School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Cranfield, MK43 0AL, Bedfordshire, UK
| | | | - J Burgess
- School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Cranfield, MK43 0AL, Bedfordshire, UK
| | - Jeroen Meersmans
- TERRA Teaching and Research Centre, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, 5030, Gembloux, Belgium
| | - Miles R Silman
- Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica-CINCIA, 17001, Madre de Dios, Peru.,Center for Energy, Environment and Sustainability, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, 27106, USA.,Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, 27106, USA
| | - Francisco Román-Dañobeytia
- Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica-CINCIA, 17001, Madre de Dios, Peru.,Center for Energy, Environment and Sustainability, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, 27106, USA
| | - Jhon Farfan
- Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica-CINCIA, 17001, Madre de Dios, Peru
| | - Pete Smith
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, 23 St Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, UK
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Ping J, Zhou J, Huang K, Sun X, Sun H, Xia J. Modeling the typhoon disturbance effect on ecosystem carbon storage dynamics in a subtropical forest of China's coastal region. Ecol Modell 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2021.109636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
|
16
|
Piovesan G, Biondi F. On tree longevity. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 231:1318-1337. [PMID: 33305422 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Large, majestic trees are iconic symbols of great age among living organisms. Published evidence suggests that trees do not die because of genetically programmed senescence in their meristems, but rather are killed by an external agent or a disturbance event. Long tree lifespans are therefore allowed by specific combinations of life history traits within realized niches that support resistance to, or avoidance of, extrinsic mortality. Another requirement for trees to achieve their maximum longevity is either sustained growth over extended periods of time or at least the capacity to increase their growth rates when conditions allow it. The growth plasticity and modularity of trees can then be viewed as an evolutionary advantage that allows them to survive and reproduce for centuries and millennia. As more and more scientific information is systematically collected on tree ages under various ecological settings, it is becoming clear that tree longevity is a key trait for global syntheses of life history strategies, especially in connection with disturbance regimes and their possible future modifications. In addition, we challenge the long-held notion that shade-tolerant, late-successional species have longer lifespans than early-successional species by pointing out that tree species with extreme longevity do not fit this paradigm. Identifying extremely old trees is therefore the groundwork not only for protecting and/or restoring entire landscapes, but also to revisit and update classic ecological theories that shape our understanding of environmental change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gianluca Piovesan
- Dendrology Lab, Department of Agriculture and Forest Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia, Viterbo, 01100, Italy
| | - Franco Biondi
- DendroLab, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 89557, USA
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Aragón S, Salinas N, Nina-Quispe A, Qquellon VH, Paucar GR, Huaman W, Porroa PC, Olarte JC, Cruz R, Muñiz JG, Yupayccana CS, Espinoza TEB, Tito R, Cosio EG, Roman-Cuesta RM. Aboveground biomass in secondary montane forests in Peru: Slow carbon recovery in agroforestry legacies. Glob Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
|
18
|
Mature Andean forests as globally important carbon sinks and future carbon refuges. Nat Commun 2021; 12:2138. [PMID: 33837222 PMCID: PMC8035207 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22459-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
It is largely unknown how South America's Andean forests affect the global carbon cycle, and thus regulate climate change. Here, we measure aboveground carbon dynamics over the past two decades in 119 monitoring plots spanning a range of >3000 m elevation across the subtropical and tropical Andes. Our results show that Andean forests act as strong sinks for aboveground carbon (0.67 ± 0.08 Mg C ha-1 y-1) and have a high potential to serve as future carbon refuges. Aboveground carbon dynamics of Andean forests are driven by abiotic and biotic factors, such as climate and size-dependent mortality of trees. The increasing aboveground carbon stocks offset the estimated C emissions due to deforestation between 2003 and 2014, resulting in a net total uptake of 0.027 Pg C y-1. Reducing deforestation will increase Andean aboveground carbon stocks, facilitate upward species migrations, and allow for recovery of biomass losses due to climate change.
Collapse
|
19
|
Heinrich VHA, Dalagnol R, Cassol HLG, Rosan TM, de Almeida CT, Silva Junior CHL, Campanharo WA, House JI, Sitch S, Hales TC, Adami M, Anderson LO, Aragão LEOC. Large carbon sink potential of secondary forests in the Brazilian Amazon to mitigate climate change. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1785. [PMID: 33741981 PMCID: PMC7979697 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22050-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Tropical secondary forests sequester carbon up to 20 times faster than old-growth forests. This rate does not capture spatial regrowth patterns due to environmental and disturbance drivers. Here we quantify the influence of such drivers on the rate and spatial patterns of regrowth in the Brazilian Amazon using satellite data. Carbon sequestration rates of young secondary forests (<20 years) in the west are ~60% higher (3.0 ± 1.0 Mg C ha-1 yr-1) compared to those in the east (1.3 ± 0.3 Mg C ha-1 yr-1). Disturbances reduce regrowth rates by 8-55%. The 2017 secondary forest carbon stock, of 294 Tg C, could be 8% higher by avoiding fires and repeated deforestation. Maintaining the 2017 secondary forest area has the potential to accumulate ~19.0 Tg C yr-1 until 2030, contributing ~5.5% to Brazil's 2030 net emissions reduction target. Implementing legal mechanisms to protect and expand secondary forests whilst supporting old-growth conservation is, therefore, key to realising their potential as a nature-based climate solution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Viola H. A. Heinrich
- grid.5337.20000 0004 1936 7603School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Ricardo Dalagnol
- grid.419222.e0000 0001 2116 4512Earth Observation and Geoinformatics Division, National Institute for Space Research (INPE), São José dos Campos, Brazil
| | - Henrique L. G. Cassol
- grid.419222.e0000 0001 2116 4512Earth Observation and Geoinformatics Division, National Institute for Space Research (INPE), São José dos Campos, Brazil
| | - Thais M. Rosan
- grid.8391.30000 0004 1936 8024College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Catherine Torres de Almeida
- grid.419222.e0000 0001 2116 4512Earth Observation and Geoinformatics Division, National Institute for Space Research (INPE), São José dos Campos, Brazil
| | - Celso H. L. Silva Junior
- grid.419222.e0000 0001 2116 4512Earth Observation and Geoinformatics Division, National Institute for Space Research (INPE), São José dos Campos, Brazil
| | - Wesley A. Campanharo
- grid.419222.e0000 0001 2116 4512Earth Observation and Geoinformatics Division, National Institute for Space Research (INPE), São José dos Campos, Brazil
| | - Joanna I. House
- grid.5337.20000 0004 1936 7603School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK ,grid.5337.20000 0004 1936 7603Cabot institute, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Stephen Sitch
- grid.8391.30000 0004 1936 8024College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Tristram C. Hales
- grid.5600.30000 0001 0807 5670School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Marcos Adami
- grid.419222.e0000 0001 2116 4512Amazon Regional Center, National Institute for Space Research (INPE), Belém, Brazil
| | - Liana O. Anderson
- National Center for Monitoring and Early Warning of Natural Disaster (CEMADEN), São José dos Campos, Brazil
| | - Luiz E. O. C. Aragão
- grid.419222.e0000 0001 2116 4512Earth Observation and Geoinformatics Division, National Institute for Space Research (INPE), São José dos Campos, Brazil ,grid.8391.30000 0004 1936 8024College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Smith CC, Espírito-Santo FDB, Healey JR, Young PJ, Lennox GD, Ferreira J, Barlow J. Secondary forests offset less than 10% of deforestation-mediated carbon emissions in the Brazilian Amazon. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2020; 26:7006-7020. [PMID: 32969561 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Secondary forests are increasing in the Brazilian Amazon and have been cited as an important mechanism for reducing net carbon emissions. However, our understanding of the contribution of secondary forests to the Amazonian carbon balance is incomplete, and it is unclear to what extent emissions from old-growth deforestation have been offset by secondary forest growth. Using MapBiomas 3.1 and recently refined IPCC carbon sequestration estimates, we mapped the age and extent of secondary forests in the Brazilian Amazon and estimated their role in offsetting old-growth deforestation emissions since 1985. We also assessed whether secondary forests in the Brazilian Amazon are growing in conditions favourable for carbon accumulation in relation to a suite of climatic, landscape and local factors. In 2017, the 129,361 km2 of secondary forest in the Brazilian Amazon stored 0.33 ± 0.05 billion Mg of above-ground carbon but had offset just 9.37% of old-growth emissions since 1985. However, we find that the majority of Brazilian secondary forests are situated in contexts that are less favourable for carbon accumulation than the biome average. Our results demonstrate that old-growth forest loss remains the most important factor determining the carbon balance in the Brazilian Amazon. Understanding the implications of these findings will be essential for improving estimates of secondary forest carbon sequestration potential. More accurate quantification of secondary forest carbon stocks will support the production of appropriate management proposals that can efficiently harness the potential of secondary forests as a low-cost, nature-based tool for mitigating climate change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Fernando D B Espírito-Santo
- Leicester Institute of Space and Earth Observation, Centre for Landscape and Climate Research, School of Geography, Geology and Environment, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - John R Healey
- School of Natural Sciences, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Bangor University, Bangor, UK
| | - Paul J Young
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
- Centre of Excellence for Environmental Data Science, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Gareth D Lennox
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | | | - Jos Barlow
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
- Federal University of Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Approaches of Satellite Remote Sensing for the Assessment of Above-Ground Biomass across Tropical Forests: Pan-tropical to National Scales. REMOTE SENSING 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/rs12203351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Tropical forests are acknowledged for providing important ecosystem services and are renowned as “the lungs of the planet Earth” due to their role in the exchange of gasses—particularly inhaling CO2 and breathing out O2—within the atmosphere. Overall, the forests provide 50% of the total plant biomass of the Earth, which accounts for 450–650 PgC globally. Understanding and accurate estimates of tropical forest biomass stocks are imperative in ascertaining the contribution of the tropical forests in global carbon dynamics. This article provides a review of remote-sensing-based approaches for the assessment of above-ground biomass (AGB) across the tropical forests (global to national scales), summarizes the current estimate of pan-tropical AGB, and discusses major advancements in remote-sensing-based approaches for AGB mapping. The review is based on the journal papers, books and internet resources during the 1980s to 2020. Over the past 10 years, a myriad of research has been carried out to develop methods of estimating AGB by integrating different remote sensing datasets at varying spatial scales. Relationships of biomass with canopy height and other structural attributes have developed a new paradigm of pan-tropical or global AGB estimation from space-borne satellite remote sensing. Uncertainties in mapping tropical forest cover and/or forest cover change are related to spatial resolution; definition adapted for ‘forest’ classification; the frequency of available images; cloud covers; time steps used to map forest cover change and post-deforestation land cover land use (LCLU)-type mapping. The integration of products derived from recent Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) satellite missions with conventional optical satellite images has strong potential to overcome most of these uncertainties for recent or future biomass estimates. However, it will remain a challenging task to map reference biomass stock in the 1980s and 1990s and consequently to accurately quantify the loss or gain in forest cover over the periods. Aside from these limitations, the estimation of biomass and carbon balance can be enhanced by taking account of post-deforestation forest recovery and LCLU type; land-use history; diversity of forest being recovered; variations in physical attributes of plants (e.g., tree height; diameter; and canopy spread); environmental constraints; abundance and mortalities of trees; and the age of secondary forests. New methods should consider peak carbon sink time while developing carbon sequestration models for intact or old-growth tropical forests as well as the carbon sequestration capacity of recovering forest with varying levels of floristic diversity.
Collapse
|
22
|
Cook-Patton SC, Leavitt SM, Gibbs D, Harris NL, Lister K, Anderson-Teixeira KJ, Briggs RD, Chazdon RL, Crowther TW, Ellis PW, Griscom HP, Herrmann V, Holl KD, Houghton RA, Larrosa C, Lomax G, Lucas R, Madsen P, Malhi Y, Paquette A, Parker JD, Paul K, Routh D, Roxburgh S, Saatchi S, van den Hoogen J, Walker WS, Wheeler CE, Wood SA, Xu L, Griscom BW. Mapping carbon accumulation potential from global natural forest regrowth. Nature 2020; 585:545-550. [DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2686-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 149] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
|
23
|
Malizia A, Blundo C, Carilla J, Osinaga Acosta O, Cuesta F, Duque A, Aguirre N, Aguirre Z, Ataroff M, Baez S, Calderón-Loor M, Cayola L, Cayuela L, Ceballos S, Cedillo H, Farfán Ríos W, Feeley KJ, Fuentes AF, Gámez Álvarez LE, Grau R, Homeier J, Jadan O, Llambi LD, Loza Rivera MI, Macía MJ, Malhi Y, Malizia L, Peralvo M, Pinto E, Tello S, Silman M, Young KR. Elevation and latitude drives structure and tree species composition in Andean forests: Results from a large-scale plot network. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0231553. [PMID: 32311701 PMCID: PMC7170706 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0231553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Our knowledge about the structure and function of Andean forests at regional scales remains limited. Current initiatives to study forests over continental or global scales still have important geographical gaps, particularly in regions such as the tropical and subtropical Andes. In this study, we assessed patterns of structure and tree species diversity along ~ 4000 km of latitude and ~ 4000 m of elevation range in Andean forests. We used the Andean Forest Network (Red de Bosques Andinos, https://redbosques.condesan.org/) database which, at present, includes 491 forest plots (totaling 156.3 ha, ranging from 0.01 to 6 ha) representing a total of 86,964 identified tree stems ≥ 10 cm diameter at breast height belonging to 2341 identified species, 584 genera and 133 botanical families. Tree stem density and basal area increases with elevation while species richness decreases. Stem density and species richness both decrease with latitude. Subtropical forests have distinct tree species composition compared to those in the tropical region. In addition, floristic similarity of subtropical plots is between 13 to 16% while similarity between tropical forest plots is between 3% to 9%. Overall, plots ~ 0.5-ha or larger may be preferred for describing patterns at regional scales in order to avoid plot size effects. We highlight the need to promote collaboration and capacity building among researchers in the Andean region (i.e., South-South cooperation) in order to generate and synthesize information at regional scale.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Agustina Malizia
- Instituto de Ecología Regional (IER), Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Tucumán, Argentina
- * E-mail:
| | - Cecilia Blundo
- Instituto de Ecología Regional (IER), Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Julieta Carilla
- Instituto de Ecología Regional (IER), Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Oriana Osinaga Acosta
- Instituto de Ecología Regional (IER), Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Francisco Cuesta
- Grupo de Investigación en Biodiversidad, Medio Ambiente y Salud (BIOMAS), Universidad de Las Américas (UDLA), Quito, Ecuador
- Consorcio para el Desarrollo Sostenible de la Ecorregión Andina (CONDESAN), Quito, Ecuador
| | - Alvaro Duque
- Departamento de Ciencias Forestales, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Medellín, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Nikolay Aguirre
- Centro de Investigaciones Tropicales del Ambiente y la Biodiversidad, Universidad Nacional de Loja, Loja, Ecuador
| | - Zhofre Aguirre
- Herbario Reinaldo Espinoza, Universidad Nacional de Loja, Loja, Ecuador
| | - Michele Ataroff
- Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Ecológicas (ICAE), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela
| | - Selene Baez
- Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Marco Calderón-Loor
- Grupo de Investigación en Biodiversidad, Medio Ambiente y Salud (BIOMAS), Universidad de Las Américas (UDLA), Quito, Ecuador
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Victoria, Australia
| | - Leslie Cayola
- Herbario Nacional de Bolivia (LPB), La Paz, Bolivia
- Missouri Botanical Garden, St, Louis, MO, United States of America
| | - Luis Cayuela
- Área de Biodiversidad y Conservación, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, España
| | - Sergio Ceballos
- Instituto de Ecología Regional (IER), Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Hugo Cedillo
- Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad de Cuenca, Cuenca, Ecuador
| | - William Farfán Ríos
- Herbario Vargas (CUZ), Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco, Cusco, Perú
| | - Kenneth J. Feeley
- Department of Biology, University of Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Alfredo Fernando Fuentes
- Herbario Nacional de Bolivia (LPB), La Paz, Bolivia
- Missouri Botanical Garden, St, Louis, MO, United States of America
| | - Luis E. Gámez Álvarez
- Laboratorio de Dendrología, Facultad de Ciencias Forestales y Ambientales, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela
| | - Ricardo Grau
- Instituto de Ecología Regional (IER), Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Juergen Homeier
- Plant Ecology and Ecosystems Research, University of Gottingen, Gottingen, Germany
- Centre of Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Use (CBL), University of Gottingen, Gottingen, Germany
| | - Oswaldo Jadan
- Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad de Cuenca, Cuenca, Ecuador
| | | | - María Isabel Loza Rivera
- Herbario Nacional de Bolivia (LPB), La Paz, Bolivia
- Department of Biology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States of America
- Center for Conservation and Sustainable Development, Missouri Botanical Garden, St, Louis, MO, United States of America
| | - Manuel J. Macía
- Departamento de Biología, Área de Botánica, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, España
- Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Cambio Global (CIBC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, España
| | - Yadvinder Malhi
- Environmental Change Institute, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
| | - Lucio Malizia
- Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Jujuy, Jujuy, Argentina
| | - Manuel Peralvo
- Consorcio para el Desarrollo Sostenible de la Ecorregión Andina (CONDESAN), Quito, Ecuador
| | - Esteban Pinto
- Consorcio para el Desarrollo Sostenible de la Ecorregión Andina (CONDESAN), Quito, Ecuador
| | - Sebastián Tello
- Center for Conservation and Sustainable Development, Missouri Botanical Garden, St, Louis, MO, United States of America
| | - Miles Silman
- Center for Energy, Environment and Sustainability, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Kenneth R. Young
- Department of Geography and the Environment, University of Austin Texas, Texas, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Elias F, Ferreira J, Lennox GD, Berenguer E, Ferreira S, Schwartz G, Melo LDO, Reis Júnior DN, Nascimento RO, Ferreira FN, Espirito-Santo F, Smith CC, Barlow J. Assessing the growth and climate sensitivity of secondary forests in highly deforested Amazonian landscapes. Ecology 2020; 101:e02954. [PMID: 31840235 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Revised: 10/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Tropical forests hold 30% of Earth's terrestrial carbon and at least 60% of its terrestrial biodiversity, but forest loss and degradation are jeopardizing these ecosystems. Although the regrowth of secondary forests has the potential to offset some of the losses of carbon and biodiversity, it remains unclear if secondary regeneration will be affected by climate changes such as higher temperatures and more frequent extreme droughts. We used a data set of 10 repeated forest inventories spanning two decades (1999-2017) to investigate carbon and tree species recovery and how climate and landscape context influence carbon dynamics in an older secondary forest located in one of the oldest post-Columbian agricultural frontiers in the Brazilian Amazon. Carbon accumulation averaged 1.08 Mg·ha-1 ·yr-1 , and species richness was effectively constant over the studied period. Moreover, we provide evidence that secondary forests are vulnerable to drought stress: Carbon balance and growth rates were lower in drier periods. This contrasts with drought responses in primary forests, where changes in carbon dynamics are driven by increased stem mortality. These results highlight an important climate change-vegetation feedback, whereby the increasing dry-season lengths being observed across parts of Amazonia may reduce the effectiveness of secondary forests in sequestering carbon and mitigating climate change. In addition, the current rate of forest regrowth in this region was low compared with previous pan-tropical and Amazonian assessments-our secondary forests reached just 41.1% of the average carbon and 56% of the tree diversity in the nearest primary forests-suggesting that these areas are unlikely to return to their original levels on politically meaningful time scales.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Elias
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará/Embrapa Amazônia Oriental, Belém, Pará, 66075-110, Brazil
| | - Joice Ferreira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará/Embrapa Amazônia Oriental, Belém, Pará, 66075-110, Brazil.,Embrapa Amazônia Oriental, Belém, Pará, 66095-903, Brazil
| | - Gareth D Lennox
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Erika Berenguer
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK.,Environmental Change Institute, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QY, UK
| | | | | | | | - Denilson N Reis Júnior
- Departamento de Engenharia Florestal, Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia, Belém, Pará, 66077-830, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo O Nascimento
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais, Instituto de Geociências, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, 66075-110, Brazil
| | | | - Fernando Espirito-Santo
- Centre for Landscape and Climate Research, Leicester Institute of Space and Earth Observation, School of Geography, Geology and Environment, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester, LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Charlotte C Smith
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Jos Barlow
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK.,Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras, Minas Gerais, 37200-000, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|