Biomass carbon stocks in China’s forests between 2000 and 2050: A prediction based on forest biomass-age relationships |
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Authors: | Bing Xu ZhaoDi Guo ShiLong Piao JingYun Fang |
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Institution: | XU Bing, GUO ZhaoDi, PIAO ShiLong &; FANG JingYun* |
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Abstract: | China’s forests are characterized by young forest age, low carbon density and a large area of planted forests, and thus have
high potential to act as carbon sinks in the future. Using China’s national forest inventory data during 1994–1998 and 1999–2003,
and direct field measurements, we investigated the relationships between forest biomass density and forest age for 36 major
forest types. Statistical approaches and the predicted future forest area from the national forestry development plan were
applied to estimate the potential of forest biomass carbon storage in China during 2000–2050. Under an assumption of continuous
natural forest growth, China’s existing forest biomass carbon (C) stock would increase from 5.86 Pg C (1 Pg=1015 g) in 1999–2003 to 10.23 Pg C in 2050, resulting in a total increase of 4.37 Pg C. Newly planted forests through afforestation
and reforestation will sequestrate an additional 2.86 Pg C in biomass. Overall, China’s forests will potentially act as a
carbon sink for 7.23 Pg C during the period 2000–2050, with an average carbon sink of 0.14 Pg C yr−1. This suggests that China’s forests will be a significant carbon sink in the next 50 years. |
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Keywords: | forest biomass–age relationship carbon pool carbon sink forest inventory data forest volume |
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