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Forests are a large carbon sink and could serve as natural climate solutions that help moderate future warming. Thus, establishing forest carbon baselines is essential for tracking climate‐mitigation targets. Western US forests are natural climate solution hotspots but are profoundly threatened by drought and altered disturbance regimes. How these factors shape spatial patterns of carbon storage and carbon change over time is poorly resolved. Here, we estimate live and dead forest carbon density in 19 forested western US ecoregions with national inventory data (2005–2019) to determine: (a) current carbon distributions, (b) underpinning drivers, and (c) recent trends. Potential drivers of current carbon included harvest, wildfire, insect and disease, topography, and climate. Using random forests, we evaluated driver importance and relationships with current live and dead carbon within ecoregions. We assessed trends using linear models. Pacific Northwest (PNW) and Southwest (SW) ecoregions were most and least carbon dense, respectively. Climate was an important carbon driver in the SW and Lower Rockies. Fire reduced live and increased dead carbon, and was most important in the Upper Rockies and California. No ecoregion was unaffected by fire. Harvest and private ownership reduced carbon, particularly in the PNW. Since 2005, live carbon declined across much of the western US, likely from drought and fire. Carbon has increased in PNW ecoregions, likely recovering from past harvest, but recent record fire years may alter trajectories. Our results provide insight into western US forest carbon function and future vulnerabilities, which is vital for effective climate change mitigation strategies.

Tropical rainforests of Latin America (LATAM) are one of the world's largest carbon sinks, with substantial future carbon sequestration potential and contributing a major proportion of the global supply of forest carbon credits. LATAM is poised to contribute predominantly towards high-quality forest carbon offset projects designed to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, halt biodiversity loss, and provide equitable conservation benefits to people. Thus, carbon markets, including compliance carbon markets and voluntary carbon markets continue to expand in LATAM. However, the extent of the growth and status of forest carbon markets, pricing initiatives, stakeholders, amongst others, are yet to be explored and extensively reviewed for the entire LATAM region. Against this backdrop, we reviewed a total of 299 articles, including peer-reviewed and non-scientific gray literature sources, from January 2010 to March 2023. Herein, based on the extensive literature review, we present the results and provide perspectives classified into five categories: (i) the status and recent trends of forest carbon markets (ii) the interested parties and their role in the forest carbon markets, (iii) the measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) approaches and role of remote sensing, (iv) the challenges, and (v) the benefits, opportunities, future directions and recommendations to enhance forest carbon markets in LATAM. Despite the substantial challenges, better governance structures for forest carbon markets can increase the number, quality and integrity of projects and support the carbon sequestration capacity of the rainforests of LATAM. Due to the complex and extensive nature of forest carbon projects in LATAM, emerging technologies like remote sensing can enable scale and reduce technical barriers to MRV, if properly benchmarked. The future directions and recommendations provided are intended to improve upon the existing infrastructure and governance mechani

Hundreds of projects to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and enhance carbon stocks (REDD+) are implemented globally, many by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or for-profit companies. Yet, at the global level, the Paris Agreement focuses on jurisdictional (national and subnational) REDD+. We ask: (1) How much can REDD+ projects contribute to achieving national and international climate objectives? (2) What are the issues in integrating REDD+ projects into national carbon accounting? Our snapshot of 377 REDD+ projects covering 53 million ha in 56 countries is based on data from the International Database on REDD+ Projects (ID-RECCO) supplemented with new data on projects' accounting methods. The number of new REDD+ projects declined steadily from 45 new projects in 2011 to five in 2019. We examined 161 certified projects that started between 2007 and 2017; 96 of these could sell carbon credits in voluntary carbon markets by 2020 and spent on average 4.7 (± 2.4) years between project start and sales in voluntary carbon markets. Globally, REDD+ projects claim to reduce an average of 3.67 tCO2e/ha annually. This figure - combined with projects limited coverage - implies that projects need to be upscaled more than 40x to fulfil the potential contribution of tropical and subtropical forests towards limiting global warming to well below 2oC. Compared to the national carbon accounting methods, most projects in Colombia, Indonesia and Peru (63 of 86) use at least one different carbon accounting parameter. Carbon accounting inconsistencies across levels need to be addressed. Overall, the argument for REDD+ projects lies in the emissions reductions they can achieve, diversifying participation in REDD+ and providing non-carbon benefits to local communities, potentially leading to broader support for climate action.

Unimodal response of tree species richness to increases in aboveground productivity is evident in grasslands but to a lesser extent in forests, where confounding factors (e.g., abiotic factors and management regimes) may alter the response and compromise the delivery of ecosystem services. We hypothesize that unimodal response of biomass accumulation through increased species richness leads to greater tree above ground carbon (AGC) stocks and thus climate regulation but not necessarily higher timber volume production for human consumption across portions of North American and European forests. We first evaluated the biodiversity-productivity pattern and assessed if the addition of potential confounding variables altered the response. Afterwards, we integrated direct and indirect effects of species richness and confounding factors in the modelling of aboveground carbon stock and timber volume. We confirm an increase in carbon stocks concomitant with an increase in tree species richness up to an optimum biomass value in both regions. Tree species richness had a marginal effect on both aboveground carbon stocks and timber volume with a trade-off in the eastern US. Biomass accumulation is lower in tree plantations than in natural forests, although volume increased with species richness. Naturally-regenerated forests needed as much as double the number of tree species than plantations to reach the same carbon stocks. Distinct ecosystem services (AGC and timber volume) showed unique pathways of achieving their maximum provisioning. As increasing forest resilience to global change requires a fundamental understanding of how tree species combine with changing climatic conditions to drive the provisioning of various ecosystem services, further examination of this study's findings across additional biogeographical regions may lead the way to unraveling such dynamics and empowering adaptive management.

This is an evaluation of Jämtland County’s ability to achieve its climate targets to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions with 10% annually, and to become fossil fuel free 2030. There is a risk that the target to become fossil fuel-free, relying primarily on outtake of forest biomass, contradicts with the target in the UN Paris Agreement to keep the global temperature increase below 1.5°C. Neither the GHG emissions reduction target, nor the target to become fossil fuel free, takes forest carbon content into account. To reach the target to become fossil fuel free, forest harvest volumes may need to be increased. This can result in lower short-term net climate benefits than if fossil fuels are substituted to a less extent, and harvest volumes are kept at lower levels. Lower harvest volumes contribute to higher net climate benefits, and in the short term this effect is greater the lower the harvest level. In any case, forest production should be optimized towards products that give high substitution effects from the replacement of other materials. To be able to reach the short-term reductions of GHG emissions, efforts should be made to decrease regional energy demand and general consumption. The transition to new technologies is slow, and is unlikely to contribute to short-term reductions. By the end of 2023, according to the county strategy, the GHG emissions should be max 73% of the emissions by the end of 2019. This is a historically huge reduction. The potential to increase uptake of carbon dioxide in forests should be considered as a complement to the other climate targets. Assessments of social/welfare risks have to be weighed against the risks of increased temperatures, which is challenging, but needs to be done. The complexity of differences in short-term and long-term carbon balance effects makes risk assessments of climate mitigation strategies difficult. Compromises will be required between risks with different time horizons. To rely on techno-optimistic, Denna avhandling är en utvärdering av Jämtlands läns möjligheter att nå sina klimatmål att reducera växthusgasemissioner med 10% årligen, och samtidigt blir fossilbränslefria 2030. Det föreligger en risk att det regionala målet att bli fossilbränslefritt, vilket delvis vilar på uttag av biomassa, motverkar temperaturmålet i FNs Parisavtal att hålla temperaturökningen under 1,5°C. Varken målet att årligen reducera växthusgasutsläppen eller målet att bli fossilfritt, tar hänsyn till hur kolbalansen ser ut i skogarna. Ett växthusgasreduktionsmål i kombination med målet att bli fossilbränslefri ökar sannolikheten att skogsskördarna ökar, vilket för Jämtland mest sannolikt resulterar i en negativ klimateffekt. Lägre skördevolymer ger på kort sikt stora klimatvinster även om substitutionseffekter inräknas. Oavsett skördenivå bör skördade volymer styras mot produkter som ger hög substitutionseffekt där andra material ersätts. För att snabbt nå minskade växthusgasutsläpp på 10% per år, bör man öka ansträngningarna att reducera samhällets allmänna energibehov och minska totalkonsumtionen. Införandet av nya teknologier går långsamt, och ger knappast några kortsiktiga effekter på utsläppen. Vid slutet av 2023 skall, enligt länsstrategin, växthusgasutsläppen vara max 73% av 2019 års nivå. Detta är en historiskt stor reduktion. Som ett komplement bör möjligheterna att öka det naturliga upptaget av koldioxid undersökas. Bedömningar av välfärdsrisker och riskerna med ökande temperaturer måste vägas mot varandra. Komplexiteten i skillnader i kortsiktiga och långsiktiga effekter på klimatet gör riskbedömningar av olika klimatstrategier svår. Kompromisser kommer krävas mellan risker med olika tidshorisonter. Att förlita sig på techno-optimistiska visioner vilka präglar alla Sveriges länsstrategier, innebär att man inför risker att utsläppsreduktionsmålet inte kommer nås. Techno- optimistiska framtidsvisioner har förvisso sina företräden men det finns en uppenbar risk att konsumtion

Unimodal response of tree species richness to increases in aboveground productivity is evident in grasslands but to a lesser extent in forests, where confounding factors (e.g., abiotic factors and management regimes) may alter the response and compromise the delivery of ecosystem services. We hypothesize that unimodal response of biomass accumulation through increased species richness leads to greater tree above ground carbon (AGC) stocks and thus climate regulation but not necessarily higher timber volume production for human consumption across portions of North American and European forests. We first evaluated the biodiversity-productivity pattern and assessed if the addition of potential confounding variables altered the response. Afterwards, we integrated direct and indirect effects of species richness and confounding factors in the modelling of aboveground carbon stock and timber volume. We confirm an increase in carbon stocks concomitant with an increase in tree species richness up to an optimum biomass value in both regions. Tree species richness had a marginal effect on both aboveground carbon stocks and timber volume with a trade-off in the eastern US. Biomass accumulation is lower in tree plantations than in natural forests, although volume increased with species richness. Naturally-regenerated forests needed as much as double the number of tree species than plantations to reach the same carbon stocks. Distinct ecosystem services (AGC and timber volume) showed unique pathways of achieving their maximum provisioning. As increasing forest resilience to global change requires a fundamental understanding of how tree species combine with changing climatic conditions to drive the provisioning of various ecosystem services, further examination of this study's findings across additional biogeographical regions may lead the way to unraveling such dynamics and empowering adaptive management. (c) 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access art

This is an evaluation of Jämtland County’s ability to achieve its climate targets to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions with 10% annually, and to become fossil fuel free 2030. There is a risk that the target to become fossil fuel-free, relying primarily on outtake of forest biomass, contradicts with the target in the UN Paris Agreement to keep the global temperature increase below 1.5°C. Neither the GHG emissions reduction target, nor the target to become fossil fuel free, takes forest carbon content into account. To reach the target to become fossil fuel free, forest harvest volumes may need to be increased. This can result in lower short-term net climate benefits than if fossil fuels are substituted to a less extent, and harvest volumes are kept at lower levels. Lower harvest volumes contribute to higher net climate benefits, and in the short term this effect is greater the lower the harvest level. In any case, forest production should be optimized towards products that give high substitution effects from the replacement of other materials. To be able to reach the short-term reductions of GHG emissions, efforts should be made to decrease regional energy demand and general consumption. The transition to new technologies is slow, and is unlikely to contribute to short-term reductions. By the end of 2023, according to the county strategy, the GHG emissions should be max 73% of the emissions by the end of 2019. This is a historically huge reduction. The potential to increase uptake of carbon dioxide in forests should be considered as a complement to the other climate targets. Assessments of social/welfare risks have to be weighed against the risks of increased temperatures, which is challenging, but needs to be done. The complexity of differences in short-term and long-term carbon balance effects makes risk assessments of climate mitigation strategies difficult. Compromises will be required between risks with different time horizons. To rely on techno-optimistic, Denna avhandling är en utvärdering av Jämtlands läns möjligheter att nå sina klimatmål att reducera växthusgasemissioner med 10% årligen, och samtidigt blir fossilbränslefria 2030. Det föreligger en risk att det regionala målet att bli fossilbränslefritt, vilket delvis vilar på uttag av biomassa, motverkar temperaturmålet i FNs Parisavtal att hålla temperaturökningen under 1,5°C. Varken målet att årligen reducera växthusgasutsläppen eller målet att bli fossilfritt, tar hänsyn till hur kolbalansen ser ut i skogarna. Ett växthusgasreduktionsmål i kombination med målet att bli fossilbränslefri ökar sannolikheten att skogsskördarna ökar, vilket för Jämtland mest sannolikt resulterar i en negativ klimateffekt. Lägre skördevolymer ger på kort sikt stora klimatvinster även om substitutionseffekter inräknas. Oavsett skördenivå bör skördade volymer styras mot produkter som ger hög substitutionseffekt där andra material ersätts. För att snabbt nå minskade växthusgasutsläpp på 10% per år, bör man öka ansträngningarna att reducera samhällets allmänna energibehov och minska totalkonsumtionen. Införandet av nya teknologier går långsamt, och ger knappast några kortsiktiga effekter på utsläppen. Vid slutet av 2023 skall, enligt länsstrategin, växthusgasutsläppen vara max 73% av 2019 års nivå. Detta är en historiskt stor reduktion. Som ett komplement bör möjligheterna att öka det naturliga upptaget av koldioxid undersökas. Bedömningar av välfärdsrisker och riskerna med ökande temperaturer måste vägas mot varandra. Komplexiteten i skillnader i kortsiktiga och långsiktiga effekter på klimatet gör riskbedömningar av olika klimatstrategier svår. Kompromisser kommer krävas mellan risker med olika tidshorisonter. Att förlita sig på techno-optimistiska visioner vilka präglar alla Sveriges länsstrategier, innebär att man inför risker att utsläppsreduktionsmålet inte kommer nås. Techno- optimistiska framtidsvisioner har förvisso sina företräden men det finns en uppenbar risk att konsumtion

The tall (>30 m) eucalypt forests of south-eastern Australia are valued for their carbon storage and sequestration. However, they may also act as a carbon source given that they are prone to large wildfires and subject to commercial logging. Logging may reduce carbon stocks, but the relative losses compared to wildfire have not been quantified in many types of these forests. There is also growing evidence that logging may make carbon stocks in affected forests less resistant to fire and increase the risk of wildfire. These dynamics may also vary between eucalypt forest types. Carbon and fire dynamics in forests dominated by eucalypt species that cannot resprout new foliage after fire may be more sensitive to antecedent disturbance than the more widespread resprouting eucalypt forests. Non-resprouting eucalypt forests are often subject to stand replacing wildfires, but such a response is inherently absent in resprouting eucalypt forests. Non-resprouting eucalypt forests are also subject to clearfell logging, while logging practices in resprouting eucalypt forests are often less intense. Hence, a thorough comparative assessment of the effects of logging, wildfire and carbon dynamics across these broad forest types is needed to inform ongoing management of tall eucalypt forests. In this thesis, I compare how logging and wildfire affect forest carbon stocks, carbon stability (the capacity for carbon stocks to persist through, and recover after likely disturbances) and the risk of fire. The effects of logging and wildfire are compared between resprouting and non-resprouting eucalypt forests. I measured above ground carbon stocks and fuel characteristics (using a terrestrial laser scanner) along approximately 80-year chronosequences of logging and wildfire. Most sites in the resprouting forest study area were subsequently burnt by a mixed severity fire during the 2019-2020 fire season, enabling me to measure the change in carbon stock associated with wildfire and how it w

This is an evaluation of Jämtland County’s ability to achieve its climate targets to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions with 10% annually, and to become fossil fuel free 2030. There is a risk that the target to become fossil fuel-free, relying primarily on outtake of forest biomass, contradicts with the target in the UN Paris Agreement to keep the global temperature increase below 1.5°C. Neither the GHG emissions reduction target, nor the target to become fossil fuel free, takes forest carbon content into account. To reach the target to become fossil fuel free, forest harvest volumes may need to be increased. This can result in lower short-term net climate benefits than if fossil fuels are substituted to a less extent, and harvest volumes are kept at lower levels. Lower harvest volumes contribute to higher net climate benefits, and in the short term this effect is greater the lower the harvest level. In any case, forest production should be optimized towards products that give high substitution effects from the replacement of other materials. To be able to reach the short-term reductions of GHG emissions, efforts should be made to decrease regional energy demand and general consumption. The transition to new technologies is slow, and is unlikely to contribute to short-term reductions. By the end of 2023, according to the county strategy, the GHG emissions should be max 73% of the emissions by the end of 2019. This is a historically huge reduction. The potential to increase uptake of carbon dioxide in forests should be considered as a complement to the other climate targets. Assessments of social/welfare risks have to be weighed against the risks of increased temperatures, which is challenging, but needs to be done. The complexity of differences in short-term and long-term carbon balance effects makes risk assessments of climate mitigation strategies difficult. Compromises will be required between risks with different time horizons. To rely on techno-optimistic, Denna avhandling är en utvärdering av Jämtlands läns möjligheter att nå sina klimatmål att reducera växthusgasemissioner med 10% årligen, och samtidigt blir fossilbränslefria 2030. Det föreligger en risk att det regionala målet att bli fossilbränslefritt, vilket delvis vilar på uttag av biomassa, motverkar temperaturmålet i FNs Parisavtal att hålla temperaturökningen under 1,5°C. Varken målet att årligen reducera växthusgasutsläppen eller målet att bli fossilfritt, tar hänsyn till hur kolbalansen ser ut i skogarna. Ett växthusgasreduktionsmål i kombination med målet att bli fossilbränslefri ökar sannolikheten att skogsskördarna ökar, vilket för Jämtland mest sannolikt resulterar i en negativ klimateffekt. Lägre skördevolymer ger på kort sikt stora klimatvinster även om substitutionseffekter inräknas. Oavsett skördenivå bör skördade volymer styras mot produkter som ger hög substitutionseffekt där andra material ersätts. För att snabbt nå minskade växthusgasutsläpp på 10% per år, bör man öka ansträngningarna att reducera samhällets allmänna energibehov och minska totalkonsumtionen. Införandet av nya teknologier går långsamt, och ger knappast några kortsiktiga effekter på utsläppen. Vid slutet av 2023 skall, enligt länsstrategin, växthusgasutsläppen vara max 73% av 2019 års nivå. Detta är en historiskt stor reduktion. Som ett komplement bör möjligheterna att öka det naturliga upptaget av koldioxid undersökas. Bedömningar av välfärdsrisker och riskerna med ökande temperaturer måste vägas mot varandra. Komplexiteten i skillnader i kortsiktiga och långsiktiga effekter på klimatet gör riskbedömningar av olika klimatstrategier svår. Kompromisser kommer krävas mellan risker med olika tidshorisonter. Att förlita sig på techno-optimistiska visioner vilka präglar alla Sveriges länsstrategier, innebär att man inför risker att utsläppsreduktionsmålet inte kommer nås. Techno- optimistiska framtidsvisioner har förvisso sina företräden men det finns en uppenbar risk att konsumtion

This is an evaluation of Jämtland County’s ability to achieve its climate targets to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions with 10% annually, and to become fossil fuel free 2030. There is a risk that the target to become fossil fuel-free, relying primarily on outtake of forest biomass, contradicts with the target in the UN Paris Agreement to keep the global temperature increase below 1.5°C. Neither the GHG emissions reduction target, nor the target to become fossil fuel free, takes forest carbon content into account. To reach the target to become fossil fuel free, forest harvest volumes may need to be increased. This can result in lower short-term net climate benefits than if fossil fuels are substituted to a less extent, and harvest volumes are kept at lower levels. Lower harvest volumes contribute to higher net climate benefits, and in the short term this effect is greater the lower the harvest level. In any case, forest production should be optimized towards products that give high substitution effects from the replacement of other materials. To be able to reach the short-term reductions of GHG emissions, efforts should be made to decrease regional energy demand and general consumption. The transition to new technologies is slow, and is unlikely to contribute to short-term reductions. By the end of 2023, according to the county strategy, the GHG emissions should be max 73% of the emissions by the end of 2019. This is a historically huge reduction. The potential to increase uptake of carbon dioxide in forests should be considered as a complement to the other climate targets. Assessments of social/welfare risks have to be weighed against the risks of increased temperatures, which is challenging, but needs to be done. The complexity of differences in short-term and long-term carbon balance effects makes risk assessments of climate mitigation strategies difficult. Compromises will be required between risks with different time horizons. To rely on techno-optimistic, Denna avhandling är en utvärdering av Jämtlands läns möjligheter att nå sina klimatmål att reducera växthusgasemissioner med 10% årligen, och samtidigt blir fossilbränslefria 2030. Det föreligger en risk att det regionala målet att bli fossilbränslefritt, vilket delvis vilar på uttag av biomassa, motverkar temperaturmålet i FNs Parisavtal att hålla temperaturökningen under 1,5°C. Varken målet att årligen reducera växthusgasutsläppen eller målet att bli fossilfritt, tar hänsyn till hur kolbalansen ser ut i skogarna. Ett växthusgasreduktionsmål i kombination med målet att bli fossilbränslefri ökar sannolikheten att skogsskördarna ökar, vilket för Jämtland mest sannolikt resulterar i en negativ klimateffekt. Lägre skördevolymer ger på kort sikt stora klimatvinster även om substitutionseffekter inräknas. Oavsett skördenivå bör skördade volymer styras mot produkter som ger hög substitutionseffekt där andra material ersätts. För att snabbt nå minskade växthusgasutsläpp på 10% per år, bör man öka ansträngningarna att reducera samhällets allmänna energibehov och minska totalkonsumtionen. Införandet av nya teknologier går långsamt, och ger knappast några kortsiktiga effekter på utsläppen. Vid slutet av 2023 skall, enligt länsstrategin, växthusgasutsläppen vara max 73% av 2019 års nivå. Detta är en historiskt stor reduktion. Som ett komplement bör möjligheterna att öka det naturliga upptaget av koldioxid undersökas. Bedömningar av välfärdsrisker och riskerna med ökande temperaturer måste vägas mot varandra. Komplexiteten i skillnader i kortsiktiga och långsiktiga effekter på klimatet gör riskbedömningar av olika klimatstrategier svår. Kompromisser kommer krävas mellan risker med olika tidshorisonter. Att förlita sig på techno-optimistiska visioner vilka präglar alla Sveriges länsstrategier, innebär att man inför risker att utsläppsreduktionsmålet inte kommer nås. Techno- optimistiska framtidsvisioner har förvisso sina företräden men det finns en uppenbar risk att konsumtion

Unimodal response of tree species richness to increases in aboveground productivity is evident in grasslands butto a lesser extent in forests, where confounding factors (e.g., abiotic factors and management regimes) may alterthe response and compromise the delivery of ecosystem services. We hypothesize that unimodalresponse of bio-mass accumulation through increased species richness leads to greater tree above ground carbon (AGC) stocksand thus climate regulation but not necessarily higher timber volume production for human consumption acrossportions of North American and European forests. Wefirst evaluated the biodiversity-productivity pattern andassessed if the addition of potential confounding variables altered the response. Afterwards, we integrated directand indirect effects of species richness and confounding factors in the modelling of aboveground carbon stockand timber volume. We confirm an increase in carbon stocks concomitant with an increase in tree species rich-ness up to an optimum biomass value in both regions. Tree species richness had a marginal effect on both above-groundcarbonstocks and timber volumewitha trade-offinthe easternUS. Biomassaccumulation islower intreeplantations than in natural forests, although volume increased with species richness. Naturally-regenerated for-ests needed as much as double the number of tree species than plantations to reach the same carbon stocks. Dis-tinct ecosystem services (AGC and timber volume) showed unique pathways of achieving their maximumprovisioning. As increasing forest resilience to global change requires a fundamental understanding of howtree species combine with changing climatic conditions to drive the provisioning of various ecosystem services,further examination of this study'sfindings across additional biogeographical regions may lead the way tounraveling such dynamics and empowering adaptive management.

Summary of project led by student researchers in the UMD Department of Geographical Sciences to integrate high-resolution forest carbon estimates into the University of Maryland's Climate Action Plan and GHG Inventory. Covers year 1 progress of a three-year project funded by the UMD Sustainability Fund.

Forest degradation in the tropics is generating large carbon (C) emissions. In tropical Asia, logging is the main driver of forest degradation. For effective implementation of REDD+ projects in logged forests in Southeast Asia, the impacts of logging on forest C stocks need to be assessed. Here, we assess C stocks in logged lowland forests in central Vietnam and explore correlations between logging intensity, soil, topography and living aboveground carbon (AGC) stocks. We present an approach to estimate historical logging intensities for the prevalent situation when complete records on logging history are unavailable. Landsat analysis and participatory mapping were used to quantify the density of historical disturbances, used as a proxy of logging intensities in the area. Carbon in AGC, dead wood, belowground carbon (BGC) and soil (SOC) was measured in twenty-four 0.25 ha plots that vary in logging intensity, and data on recent logging, soil properties, elevation and slope were also collected. Heavily logged forests stored only half the amount of AGC of stems ≥10 cm dbh as lightly logged forests, mainly due to a reduction in the number of large (≥60 cm dbh) trees. Carbon in AGC of small trees (5–10 cm dbh), dead wood and BGC comprised only small fractions of total C stocks, while SOC in the topsoil of 0–30 cm depth stored ~50% of total C stocks. Combining logging intensities with soil and topographic data showed that logging intensity was the main factor explaining the variability in AGC. Our research shows large reductions in AGC in medium and heavily logged forests. It highlights the critical importance of conserving big trees to maintain high forest C stocks and accounting for SOC in total C stock estimates.

By storing carbon in the biosphere, forests are mitigating climate change. Primary forests have been found to have the potential to store large amounts of carbon, but no studies on carbon storage in Swedish primary forests have been published. This study shows that Swedish primary forests store more carbon in biomass than surrounding secondary forests in the majority of cases and on average. The results demonstrate that land use has a large impact on carbon storage in forests and that there is large potential to store carbon in primary forests. Introduction Forests are mitigating climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it in the biosphere. Primary forests in particular have the potential to store large amounts of carbon and many are still accumulating carbon. Carbon storage in primary forests is also of interest as it may serve as a baseline against which to evaluate the effects of land use and land use change on carbon storage. However, uncertainties in terms of both historic and current carbon stocks are limiting our understanding of terrestrial carbon cycling and how it is affected by land use and land use change. Aim and method The main aim of this study was to estimate and compare the storage of living biomass in Swedish primary forests with the storage of living biomass in surrounding secondary forests. The estimates were made using a raster of remotely sensed vegetation biomass. Results and discussion Swedish primary forests stored more biomass than surrounding secondary forests, both on average and in the majority of cases. Difference between primary and secondary forest biomass storage was related to difference in stand age, indicating that biomass storage in primary forests is at least partly governed by age related processes. In addition, this study confirms previous findings of a biomass storage gradient along temperature, altitude, and latitude gradients. The carbon storage in Swedish primary forests was similar to est, Hur vi förvaltar skogen påverkar klimatet Varför skogar är viktiga att undersöka och vad jag undersökte Klimatförändringar påverkar redan såväl mänskliga som naturliga system över hela jordklotet, och de förväntas påverka dessa system även i framtiden. Eftersom skogar absorberar koldioxid från atmosfären och sedan lagrar den i biosfären har de en mildrande effekt på klimatförändringarna. Vad gäller just lagring av kol har det uppdagats att primärskogar, skogar som är relativt opåverkade av mänskliga aktiviteter, i många fall lagrar stora mängder kol – mer än vad som normalt lagras i sekundärskogar, skogar som förvaltas av människor i syfte att utvinna användbara material. Dessutom kan primärskogars kolförråd användas som referenspunkter gentemot vilka effekter av markanvändning och förändrad markanvändning kan utvärderas. Mig veterligen har däremot inga undersökningar av lagring av kol i svenska primärskogar publicerats. I denna studie undersökte jag därför hur mycket kol som lagras i levande biomassa i svenska primärskogar och jämförde detta med hur mycket kol som lagras i levande biomassa i omkringliggande sekundärskogar. Svenska primärskogar kan lagra betydande mängder kol Undersökningarna byggde på kartografiskt material som beskriver skogsbiomassa över nästintill hela Sverige, och resultaten visade att de svenska primärskogarna lagrar mer kol än omgivande sekundärskogar både i genomsnitt och i majoriteten av fall. Skillnaderna i kolförrådens storlek visar att markanvändning har stor påverkan på lagring av kol i svenska skogar och att det finns potential att lagra stora mängder kol i svenska primärskogar. Inte minst det faktum att den primärskog med störst kolförråd lagrade dubbelt så mycket kol som den sekundärskog med störst kolförråd visar att svenska primärskogar har potential att lagra betydande mängder kol om förhållandena är gynnsamma. Varför lagrar primärskogar mer kol än sekundärskogar? Det är inte helt klarlagt vad som ligger bakom de relativt stora ko

Forest degradation in the tropics is generating large carbon (C) emissions. In tropical Asia, logging is the main driver of forest degradation. For effective implementation of REDD+ projects in logged forests in Southeast Asia, the impacts of logging on forest C stocks need to be assessed. Here, we assess C stocks in logged lowland forests in central Vietnam and explore correlations between logging intensity, soil, topography and living aboveground carbon (AGC) stocks. We present an approach to estimate historical logging intensities for the prevalent situation when complete records on logging history are unavailable. Landsat analysis and participatory mapping were used to quantify the density of historical disturbances, used as a proxy of logging intensities in the area. Carbon in AGC, dead wood, belowground carbon (BGC) and soil (SOC) was measured in twenty-four 0.25 ha plots that vary in logging intensity, and data on recent logging, soil properties, elevation and slope were also collected. Heavily logged forests stored only half the amount of AGC of stems ≥10 cm dbh as lightly logged forests, mainly due to a reduction in the number of large (≥60 cm dbh) trees. Carbon in AGC of small trees (5–10 cm dbh), dead wood and BGC comprised only small fractions of total C stocks, while SOC in the topsoil of 0–30 cm depth stored ~50% of total C stocks. Combining logging intensities with soil and topographic data showed that logging intensity was the main factor explaining the variability in AGC. Our research shows large reductions in AGC in medium and heavily logged forests. It highlights the critical importance of conserving big trees to maintain high forest C stocks and accounting for SOC in total C stock estimates.

The viability of the climate pledges made by Brazil at the COP21 in Paris, 2015, heavily depends on the success of the country policies related to forest governance. Particularly, there are high expectations that the enforcement of the Brazilian Forest Code (BFC) will drive large-scale forest recovery and carbon mitigation. In this study, we quantified the potential role that ongoing forest regeneration may play in offsetting deficits from private properties with less vegetation cover than determined by the BFC, considering different law implementation settings. Focusing on the Amazon Biome, we overlaid property level data from a mandatory registry ( approximate to 250,000 properties) onto land cover maps to quantify on-site forest deficit offsets by ongoing forest recovery. Similarly, we estimated the share of regrowing forests in private properties potentially eligible for offsite deficit compensation (i.e. via market-based forest certificates trade). Regrowing forests could reduce, on-site, 3.2 Mho of forests deficits, decreasing non-compliance from private properties by 35%. Likewise, forest certificates availability increased by 3.4 Mha when we included regrowing forests in the calculations. This means an increase in the forest certificate offer-demand ratio from 0.9 to 2.0. On the one hand, trading certificates issued from recovering forests may represent a low-cost strategy for compliance with the BFC, a pathway for achieving restoration targets, and an additional source of income for landholders. To meet this potential, it is necessary to better conceptualize second-growth forests, advancing the poor definitions presented by the BFC, and offer an operational basis for their protection. On the other hand, including regrowing forests' certificates in compensation schemes may further restrain the potential of the trading mechanism for conservation of unprotected old-growth forests and lead to positive net carbon emissions. We highlight that the BFC implementati

Using an integrated assessment model, we examine the implications of climate policies that do not fully recognize forest carbon. Specifically, we first investigate the impact of an asymmetric policy that recognizes carbon emissions from fossil fuels while fully ignoring forest carbon. Next, we investigate the relative importance of not recognizing emissions from a reduction in the stock of forest biomass compared to not recognizing sequestration from the growth of forest biomass. We show that asymmetric carbon policies lead to lower levels of welfare, as well as higher emissions and carbon prices. This occurs because the forest resource will be allocated inefficiently under these carbon policies. Broadly, we find that when the social planner does not account for emissions or sequestration from the forest, the planner will set bioenergy levels that are too high and afforestation and avoided deforestation levels that are too low. Our results further reveal that not recognizing forest emissions leads to larger welfare losses than not recognizing sequestration.

Introduction: The main cause of global warming is the increase of greenhouse gases since the industrial revolution; taking into account that carbon dioxide (CO2) is the second bigger contributor to this problem; and that the forests act as reservoirs of carbon. The reduction of emissions by degradation programs (REDD +) is a mechanism of mitigation and adaptation to climate change, one of its objectives is to estimate the capture of forest carbon.Objective: This article aims to estimate the content of aerial biomass and stored carbon in the ecosystem, as well as in the ten species with the highest importance value index (IVI). This in order to know what is the species with the largest reserve of carbon and see whether there are differences in the structural variables of the species.Methodology: The biomass estimations were made using an indirect method with nine allometric equations that estimate according to the diameter at breast height (10 cm to 1.30 m) and the total height. The carbon stored is calculated by taking the 50% of the estimated biomass.Results: A value of 465.41 t/0.05 ha of aerial biomass and 232.70 t/0.05 ha of carbon stored were estimated for the ecosystem. The species with the highest value of biomass and carbon was Anacardium Excelsum.Conclusions: The ten species with the highest IVI represent 93.72% of the total biomass of the ecosystem, the most important represents the 18.23%, is related to the structural variables of the vegetation such as the basal area and the total height., Introducción: La causa principal del calentamiento global se debe al aumento de los gases de efecto invernadero que se han producido desde la revolución industrial. Se conoce que el dióxido de carbono (CO2) es el segundo gas que más aporta a esta problemática y que los bosques actúan como depósitos de carbono. De esta forma, los programas de reducción de emisiones por deforestación y degradación (REDD+) son un mecanismo de mitigación y adaptación al cambio climático; uno de sus propósitos es estimar la captura del carbono forestal.Objetivo: Estimar el contenido de biomasa aérea y de carbono almacenado en el ecosistema y, así mismo, en las diez especies con mayor índice de valor de importancia (IVI), conocer cuál es la especie con mayor reserva de carbono y conocer si existen diferencias significativas en las variables estructurales de las especies.Metodología: Las estimaciones de biomasa se realizaron mediante el método indirecto utilizando nueve ecuaciones alométricas que realizan esta estimación en función del diámetro a la altura del pecho (≥10 cm a 1.30 m) y la altura total. El carbono almacenado se calculó tomando el 50% de la biomasa estimada.Resultados: Para el ecosistema se estimaron 465,41 t/0.05 ha de biomasa aérea y 232,70 t/0.05 ha de carbono almacenado. La especie con el valor más alto de biomasa y carbono fue Anacardium excelsum.Conclusiones: Las diez especies con mayor IVI representan el 93,72% de la biomasa total del ecosistema; la más importante representa el 18,23% estando relacionado con las variables estructurales de la vegetación como el área basal y la altura total.

Introduction: The main cause of global warming is the increase of greenhouse gases since the industrial revolution; taking into account that carbon dioxide (CO2) is the second bigger contributor to this problem; and that the forests act as reservoirs of carbon. The reduction of emissions by degradation programs (REDD +) is a mechanism of mitigation and adaptation to climate change, one of its objectives is to estimate the capture of forest carbon.Objective: This article aims to estimate the content of aerial biomass and stored carbon in the ecosystem, as well as in the ten species with the highest importance value index (IVI). This in order to know what is the species with the largest reserve of carbon and see whether there are differences in the structural variables of the species.Methodology: The biomass estimations were made using an indirect method with nine allometric equations that estimate according to the diameter at breast height (10 cm to 1.30 m) and the total height. The carbon stored is calculated by taking the 50% of the estimated biomass.Results: A value of 465.41 t/0.05 ha of aerial biomass and 232.70 t/0.05 ha of carbon stored were estimated for the ecosystem. The species with the highest value of biomass and carbon was Anacardium Excelsum.Conclusions: The ten species with the highest IVI represent 93.72% of the total biomass of the ecosystem, the most important represents the 18.23%, is related to the structural variables of the vegetation such as the basal area and the total height., Introducción: La causa principal del calentamiento global se debe al aumento de los gases de efecto invernadero que se han producido desde la revolución industrial. Se conoce que el dióxido de carbono (CO2) es el segundo gas que más aporta a esta problemática y que los bosques actúan como depósitos de carbono. De esta forma, los programas de reducción de emisiones por deforestación y degradación (REDD+) son un mecanismo de mitigación y adaptación al cambio climático; uno de sus propósitos es estimar la captura del carbono forestal.Objetivo: Estimar el contenido de biomasa aérea y de carbono almacenado en el ecosistema y, así mismo, en las diez especies con mayor índice de valor de importancia (IVI), conocer cuál es la especie con mayor reserva de carbono y conocer si existen diferencias significativas en las variables estructurales de las especies.Metodología: Las estimaciones de biomasa se realizaron mediante el método indirecto utilizando nueve ecuaciones alométricas que realizan esta estimación en función del diámetro a la altura del pecho (≥10 cm a 1.30 m) y la altura total. El carbono almacenado se calculó tomando el 50% de la biomasa estimada.Resultados: Para el ecosistema se estimaron 465,41 t/0.05 ha de biomasa aérea y 232,70 t/0.05 ha de carbono almacenado. La especie con el valor más alto de biomasa y carbono fue Anacardium excelsum.Conclusiones: Las diez especies con mayor IVI representan el 93,72% de la biomasa total del ecosistema; la más importante representa el 18,23% estando relacionado con las variables estructurales de la vegetación como el área basal y la altura total.

Very high spatial resolution (VHSR) optical satellite imagery has shown good potential to provide non-saturating proxies of tropical forest aboveground biomass (AGB) from the analysis of canopy texture, for instance through the Fourier Transform Textural Ordination method. Empirical case studies however showed that the relationship between Fourier texture features and forest AGB varies across forest types and regions of the world, limiting model transferability. A better understanding of the biophysical mechanisms on which canopy texture – forest AGB relation relies is a prerequisite to move toward broad scale applications. Here we simulated VHSR optical canopy scenes in identical sun-sensor geometry for 279 1-ha tropical forest inventory plots distributed across the tropics. Our aim was to assess the respective merits and complementarity of two types of texture analysis techniques (i.e. Fourier and lacunarity) on a set of forests with contrasted structure and geographical origin, and develop a general texture-based approach for tropical forest AGB mapping. Across forests, Fourier texture captured a gradient of stands mean crown size reflecting well the progressive changes in stand structure throughout forest aggradation phase (e.g. Pearson's r = − 0.42 with basal area) while lacunarity texture captured a gradient of canopy openness (, i.e. Pearson's r = − 0.57 with stand gap fraction). Both types of texture indices were highly complementary for predicting forest AGB at the global level (so-called FL-model). The residual error of the FL-model was structured across sites and could be partially captured with a bioclimatic proxy, further improving the performance of the global model (so-called FLE-model) and reducing site-level biases. The FLE model was tested on a set of real Pleiades images covering a mosaic of high-biomass forests in the Congo basin (mean AGB over 49 field plots: 359 ± 98 Mg ha− 1), leading to a significant relationship (R2 = 0.47 on validation data, SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) was reformulated to cover deforestation and forest degradation, which, until recently, were overlooked in climate change mitigation initiatives. However, whether REDD+ will benefit countries like Nepal, which has a relatively low deforestation rate, less forest cover, and a population predominantly comprising farmers who are heavily dependent on forests, is being debated. To address this issue, the opportunity cost (OC) of REDD+ need to be analyzed. This study analyzes the OC of REDD+ against high-value and mid-value crops in the Thangsa Deurali Community Forest (TDCF) of Dolakha district in the midhills of Nepal. This community forest has been participating in the REDD+ pilot program since 2009. In the study, household survey, focused group discussions, and key informant interviews were used to collect data on community forest management, including forest harvesting and agricultural practices. To estimate the OC, the 2011 guidelines from the World Bank were followed. Potato was taken as a high-value crop, whereas maize and millet were taken as mid-value crops, considering their importance in the study area. The members of TDCF harvest mainly timber, fuel wood, fodder, and leaf litter from the forest’s 217.1 hectares (ha). The OCs of REDD+ will be US$0.072 million/year and US$0.065 million/year for high- and mid-value crops, respectively. The carbon prices of US$198 and US$179 per ton will be optimal to cover the possible losses for not moving to high- and mid-value crops, respectively, in forestland that can be converted to agricultural land. Co-benefits such as enhancing biodiversity, water recharging, and increasing the role of the forest itself in the farming system could make REDD+ a good choice for managing forests with community participation. The monetary value of such co-benefits is crucial in easing out the optimal carbon price.

Carbon sequestration and storage are important areas of scientific research. Despite this importance, the current approach to carbon mass estimates consists primarily of estimating wood volume, multiplying that volume by a species average wood density value to obtain biomass, then multiplying biomass by 0.5. Alternatively biomass may be estimated from allometric equations and then converted to carbon with the same 0.5 carbon conversion value. This approach is fundamentally inaccurate. This dissertation presents three improvements in carbon mass estimation that are critical to moving the science forward. In the first chapter I explore the importance of utilizing carbon fraction measurement methods that are capable of capturing the volatile component of tree tissues. I demonstrate a novel method that captures an additional 1.10% - 2.21% carbon mass in tree tissues. This increase is equivalent to “finding” an additional 16 Pg of carbon at a global scale. In the second chapter I explore the variation in measured carbon fractions, wood densities, and carbon densities within tree boles of seven major conifer species. I determine the importance of accounting for this variation, and discover negative correlations between wood density and carbon fractions within trees suggesting that the current approach of studying these characteristics as two independent properties is potentially biased. Applying the carbon fraction measurements at the whole tree level led to increases in carbon mass estimates of between 3.6% to 10.6% compared to carbon mass estimates that used a carbon fraction of 0.5. These values point to a systematic bias in current carbon mass estimation protocols. In the third chapter I develop carbon mass prediction models for five conifer species that capture some of the variation determined in chapter two. The models developed are the first vertically integrable conifer tree models to be based on accurately measured carbon fraction data paired with wood density me

There is growing interest in designing and implementing climate change mitigation and adaptation (M + A) in synergy in the forest and land use sectors. However, there is limited knowledge on how the planning and promotion of synergies between M + A can be operationalized in the current efforts to mitigate climate change through forest carbon. This paper contributes to fill this knowledge gap by exploring ways of planning and promoting M + A synergy outcomes in forest carbon initiatives. It examines eight guidelines that are widely used in designing and implementing forest carbon initiatives. Four guiding principles with a number of criteria that are relevant for planning synergy outcomes in forest carbon activities are proposed. The guidelines for developing forest carbon initiatives need to demonstrate that (1) the health of forest ecosystems is maintained or enhanced; (2) the adaptive capacity of forest-dependent communities is ensured; (3) carbon and adaptation benefits are monitored and verified; and (4) adaptation outcomes are anticipated and planned in forest carbon initiatives. The forest carbon project development guidelines can encourage the integration of adaptation in forest carbon initiatives. However, their current efforts guiding projects and programs to deliver biodiversity and environmental benefits, ecosystem services, and socioeconomic benefits are not considered explicitly as efforts towards enhancing adaptation. An approach for incentivizing and motivating project developers, guideline setters, and offset buyers is imperative in order to enable existing guidelines to make clear contributions to adaptation goals. We highlight and discuss potential ways of incentivizing and motivating the explicit planning and promotion of adaptation outcomes in forest carbon initiatives.

Efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in tropical Asia require accurate high-resolution mapping of forest carbon stocks and predictions of their likely future variation. Here we combine radar and LiDAR with field measurements to create a high-resolution aboveground forest carbon stock (AFCS) map and use spatial modeling to present probable future AFCS changes for the Riau province of central Sumatra.Our map provides spatially explicit estimates of the AFCS with an accuracy of ±23.5 Mg C ha(exp-1). According to this map, the natural forests in the province currently store 265 million Mg C, with a density of 72 Mg C ha(exp−1), as aboveground biomass. Using a spatially explicit modeling technique we derived time-series AFCS maps up to the year 2030 under three forest policy scenarios: business as usual, conservation, and concession. The spatial patterns of AFCS and their trends under different scenarios vary on a local scale, and some areas are highlighted that are at eminent risk of carbon emission. Based on the business as usual scenario, the current AFCS could decrease by 75 %, which may lead to the release of 747 million Mg CO2. The other two scenarios, conservation and concession, suggest the risk reductions by 11 and 59 %, respectively.The time-series AFCS maps provide spatially explicit scenarios of changes in AFCS. These data may aid in planning Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation in developing countries projects in the study area, and stimulate the development of AFCS maps for other regions of tropical Asia., Physical characteristics: Original contains color illustrations, 形態: カラー図版あり

Carbon sequestration and storage are important areas of scientific research. Despite this importance, the current approach to carbon mass estimates consists primarily of estimating wood volume, multiplying that volume by a species average wood density value to obtain biomass, then multiplying biomass by 0.5. Alternatively biomass may be estimated from allometric equations and then converted to carbon with the same 0.5 carbon conversion value. This approach is fundamentally inaccurate. This dissertation presents three improvements in carbon mass estimation that are critical to moving the science forward. In the first chapter I explore the importance of utilizing carbon fraction measurement methods that are capable of capturing the volatile component of tree tissues. I demonstrate a novel method that captures an additional 1.10% - 2.21% carbon mass in tree tissues. This increase is equivalent to “finding” an additional 16 Pg of carbon at a global scale. In the second chapter I explore the variation in measured carbon fractions, wood densities, and carbon densities within tree boles of seven major conifer species. I determine the importance of accounting for this variation, and discover negative correlations between wood density and carbon fractions within trees suggesting that the current approach of studying these characteristics as two independent properties is potentially biased. Applying the carbon fraction measurements at the whole tree level led to increases in carbon mass estimates of between 3.6% to 10.6% compared to carbon mass estimates that used a carbon fraction of 0.5. These values point to a systematic bias in current carbon mass estimation protocols. In the third chapter I develop carbon mass prediction models for five conifer species that capture some of the variation determined in chapter two. The models developed are the first vertically integrable conifer tree models to be based on accurately measured carbon fraction data paired with wood density me

Forests play a vital role in the global carbon cycle as both a source and sink of carbon. Increasingly, remote sensing data is being used to facilitate the identification, quantification, and management of forest carbon and associated resources at a variety of spatial scales. Efforts to extrapolate carbon estimates from site-specific observations and laboratory experiments to landscape scales require baseline estimates of forest distribution and structure. Model-data synthesis approaches are continually being improved to allow for field observations and remote sensing data to scale carbon estimates from the plot to the landscape scale. In the Central Highlands region of south-eastern Australia, recently suggested as the most carbon dense forests in the world (Keith et al., 2009), carbon stock estimates span wide ranges based on spatially limited field campaigns that have been scaled to the landscape using coarse resolution distribution maps of forest types and homogenising assumptions of forest structure. This study aimed to improve the resolution and accuracy of past studies by characterising and modelling the structure and extent of south-eastern Australian temperate forests for improved estimation of carbon stocks. Plot level uncertainties in carbon estimates were reduced by assessing carbon stocks in multiple above- and belowground forest components, including the first estimates of two dominant tree fern species that occur in the region. Utilising three-dimensional structural information from light detection and ranging (lidar) remote sensing data, hyperspectral remote sensing techniques were used to analyse the lidar data in a novel approach to map forest structure and distribution for these forests. A predictive ecosystem map (PEM) was generated to incorporate species distributions with lidar-measured forest structure to spatially identify the likely distribution of key rainforest and eucalypt stand types in the Central Highlands. Using detailed plot carbon e

Tropical deforestation has reduced the extent of natural forests, which conserve biodiversity, provide essential resources to people, and reduce climate change by storing carbon. Forest conservation projects need tree species data to effectively manage biodiversity while greenhouse gas reduction programs require robust methods to estimate forest carbon. Here, we use field measurements, remote sensing, and Monte Carlo analyses to quantify tree biodiversity and aboveground carbon changes and uncertainties in 5200km2 of Amazonian and Yungas rainforest and other land around the Parque Nacional Yanachaga-Chemillén and two other protected areas in the Selva Central, Peru. Field inventories of 17ha found 438 tree species in 156 families. Field measurements of 10,838 trees and Monte Carlo analyses of uncertainties in measurements, allometric equations, wood density, and the carbon fraction of biomass showed that aboveground live carbon densities were 93±39Mgha−1 (mean ±95% confidence interval [CI]) in old-growth forest and 40±10Mgha−1 in secondary forest. Carbon density was significantly correlated to tree species richness (P<0.0001). Supervised classification of Landsat images showed a 1989–2005 net deforestation rate of 0.3%y−1, reduction of forest cover from three-quarters of the area to two-thirds, and net degradation of additional forest equivalent to half the deforested area. A Monte Carlo analysis that combined carbon density and remote sensing uncertainties showed that forest changes caused statistically significant net emissions of 1.6±0.4millionMg carbon. Allometric equations and remote sensing accounted for most of the uncertainty. Multivariate statistical analyses showed that, of six factors examined, distance to roads most explained historical deforestation patterns. The protected areas experienced no net deforestation, very low degradation, and very low change close to roads. Projection of potential forest cover to 2021 indicates that a Reducing Emissions f

Over time, forests have played an important role in the ecosystems’ balance. They store and retain a large amount of carbondioxide, preventing it to be released into the atmosphere. However, in recent years, deforestation and forest degradation endanger their continuity in the provision of such service.In this article, the authors explain the program called “Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation” (REDD+), which seeks to combat such problems. In that way, they introduce which are the challenges for its implementation in our country., A lo largo del tiempo, los bosques han desempeñado un rol importante en el equilibrio delos ecosistemas. Éstos almacenan y retienen una gran cantidad de dióxido de carbono, evitando así que este gas se libere a la atmosfera.A pesar de ello, en los últimos años, la deforestación y degradación forestal ponen en peligrosu continuidad en la provisión de ese servicio.En este artículo, los autores explican el programa denominado “Reducción de Emisiones por Deforestación y Degradación de bosques” (REDD+) que busca combatir los problemas descritos. Asimismo, plantean cuáles son losretos para su implementación en nuestro país.

Greenhouse gas inventories and emissions reduction programs require robust methods to quantify carbon sequestration in forests. We compare forest carbon estimates from Light Detection and Ranging (Lidar) data and QuickBird high-resolution satellite images, calibrated and validated by field measurements of individual trees. We conducted the tests at two sites in California: (1) 59 km2 of secondary and old-growth coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) forest (Garcia-Mailliard area) and (2) 58 km2 of old-growth Sierra Nevada forest (North Yuba area). Regression of aboveground live tree carbon density, calculated from field measurements, against Lidar height metrics and against QuickBird-derived tree crown diameter generated equations of carbon density as a function of the remote sensing parameters. Employing Monte Carlo methods, we quantified uncertainties of forest carbon estimates from uncertainties in field measurements, remote sensing accuracy, biomass regression equations, and spatial autocorrelation. Validation of QuickBird crown diameters against field measurements of the same trees showed significant correlation (r = 0.82, P < 0.05). Comparison of stand-level Lidar height metrics with field-derived Lorey's mean height showed significant correlation (Garcia-Mailliard r = 0.94, P < 0.0001; North Yuba R = 0.89, P < 0.0001). Field measurements of five aboveground carbon pools (live trees, dead trees, shrubs, coarse woody debris, and litter) yielded aboveground carbon densities (mean ± standard error without Monte Carlo) as high as 320 ± 35 Mg ha- 1 (old-growth coast redwood) and 510 ± 120 Mg ha- 1 (red fir [Abies magnifica] forest), as great or greater than tropical rainforest. Lidar and QuickBird detected aboveground carbon in live trees, 70-97% of the total. Large sample sizes in the Monte Carlo analyses of remote sensing data generated low estimates of uncertainty. Lidar showed lower uncertainty and higher accuracy than QuickBird, due to high correlation

This study on the socio-economic effects of four carbon sequestration projects in Brazil and Bolivia examines how these projects contribute to local development processes and what benefits accrue to local people. It draws on a number of lessons relating to project design, social networks, economic impacts, and relations with local communities. In particular, it stresses the importance of early information exchange before project formulation to help reflect local social demands. It goes on to make important recommendations for CDM procedures, emphasising that local sustainable development should be a central part of CDM projects' eligibility criteria and should be given equal weight to those referring to additionality.

This study on the socio-economic effects of four carbon sequestration projects in Brazil and Bolivia examines how these projects contribute to local development processes and what benefits accrue to local people. It draws on a number of lessons relating to project design, social networks, economic impacts, and relations with local communities. In particular, it stresses the importance of early information exchange before project formulation to help reflect local social demands. It goes on to make important recommendations for CDM procedures, emphasising that local sustainable development should be a central part of CDM projects' eligibility criteria and should be given equal weight to those referring to additionality.