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Abstract: Gabon is one of 11 high-forest, low-deforestation (HFLD) countries in the world. It has the highest proportion of preserved forests in the Congo Basin and is the first country to create large forest carbon offset credits in the market. However, about 60% of forests in Gabon is allocated to logging concessions, causing concerns for forest degradation and the sustainability of carbon credits. Here, we use a combination of air- and space-borne remote sensing data and the-state-of-the-art gradient boosted regression trees to estimate forest structure and aboveground biomass carbon density (ACD) of trees at 100 m resolution for the year circa 2020. Mapping spatial variations of ACD across floristically diverse landscapes, we estimate average density and total living carbon storage of trees at the national and sub-national levels. The estimated ACD of trees in forestlands within the country was 142.12 ± 7.3 Mg C ha−1 with the highest values found in central Gabon (150.08 ± 5.8 Mg C ha−1) and on highlands (161.18 ± 6.7 Mg C ha−1). On average, in every region, ACD of forests found within logging concessions (149.89 ± 6.1 Mg C ha−1) was higher than unmanaged forests of unprotected areas (122.81 ± 4.4 Mg C ha−1), indicating the combined effects of logging in carbon-rich forests and increased productivity due to management. The country’s total estimated biomass carbon for trees (above and belowground) stored within the forests was 4.14 ± 0.3 Pg C with 68% found within logging concessions and 14% within protected areas. The map provides high precision and comprehensive assessment of carbon stocks of trees in Gabon’s forests, significantly improving the country’s prospects to implement climate mitigation policies and to participate in carbon markets.

Forests are essential for the ecological functioning providing critical habitats for biodiversity and hold large biomass, which are affected by bioclimatic and topographical variables. This study investigated the topographic factor (elevation) that play an important role in forest diversity and biomass distribution. The present study examined the relationship between topographical (viz. elevation, slope, aspects) and Bioclimatic variables (temperature/ precipitation) with measured biomass of Tropical forests. The study area selected is Sariska Tiger Reserve (STR), a tropical forest with high conservation priorities with fewer disturbances. Earth observation datasets such as ALOS-PALSAR, SRTM, and GEDI aboveground biomass density (AGBD) are retrieved in the Cloud computing platform (GGE) to generate outcomes. The study also utilized Bioclimatic variables such as maximum, minimum and mean temperature during warmest/coldest month and warmest, coldest, wettest, driest Quarters. GEDI derived mean biomass was observed to be 1.3 to 95 Mg/ha ± (0.68–5.88 SD). The data was statistically analyzed using correlation coefficient (R) for topographic and bioclimatic variables. Results specified six Biodiversity indices (BDI), and six bioclimatic variables during analysis. Correlation coefficient (R) indicated strong positive relationship of three biodiversity indices with elevation for Shannon - Weiner index (R = 0.71) followed by Margalef richness index (R = 0.65) and reciprocal Simpson index (R = 0.61). While Buzas and Gibson Index (R=−0.45), Berger dominance index (R=−0.27), and Menhinick index (R=−0.51) showed negative correlation with elevation. Overall, topographic and bioclimatic variables are governed by elevation for biomass and carbon stocks (with r=−0.41). Similarly, correlation coefficient (R) of elevation against max temperature during Warmest month (MTMW), Warmest Quarter (MTWarQ) and Wettest Quarter (MTWetQ) indicated strong negative correlation with R value of −0.88, −0.88, and − 0.87 respectivelry. It is followed by MTColdest Quarter (R=−0.85) and MinTCM (R=−0.84). while lowest correlation was shown by Min Temp during Driest Quarter with R=−0.23. Outcomes showed declining trends of biomass stocks ranged from 129.44 mg/t to 7.07 mg/t with significantly increasing trends till mid elevation and thereafter decreasing trends of tree biomass with increasing elevation. Highest biomass of 95 mg/t (GEDI derived) and Field measured Biomass of 129.44 mg/t was observed at intermediate elevation of 530 m after that showed decline in biomass distribution. Elevation can act as a dominant determinant for AGB in tropical forest for several reasons, such as topographic variations, temperature variations, precipitation patterns, soil nutrient availability, species adaptation, disturbance regimes, and most influencing one is human activities. Therefore, elevation can be a crucial predictor in conjunction with other factors to influence biomass at undisturbed places with high slopes and controlled species richness, distribution and biomass accumulation in tree species. Highlights: 1. Elevation effects species distribution and richness (in conjunction with bioclimatic factors). 2. Highest biomass of 95 mg/t (GEDI derived) and Field measured Biomass of 129.44 mg/t was observed at intermediate elevation of 530 m after that declining trend in biomass distribution (elevation ranges from 262 m to 721m). 3. Topographical and Bioclimatic variables' relationship against biomass and biodiversity index. 4. Cloud computing applications (GGE) provide datasets for fast analysis and outcomes for local and global scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The management of land use is a significant factor in maintaining the equilibrium of carbon stocks. However, the expansion of infrastructure, mining, industry, trade, economic activity and population has resulted in significant changes to land use, which have led to a reduction in carbon stock reserves. The objective of this study was to map the level of carbon stock reserves and to analyse the variable driving forces of carbon stock change. The variables used in this study encompass 21 distinct types, including: socio-economic, physical, locational, land and spatial planning aspects. The dependent variable comprises the level of carbon stock by land use type in 2014, 2018, and 2022. Spatial regression analysis was employed to ascertain the driving forces that exert a predominant influence on alterations in carbon stock reserves. The results of the spatial regression analysis between the dependent and independent variables yielded a highly significant correlation, as indicated by the R-square value exceeding 0.09. This condition is influenced by the use of complex and comprehensive variables, as well as the use of spatial regression which is able to analyse between variables by considering spatial aspects. The results of the analysis demonstrate that location variables (city centre, airport and road accessibility), physical variables (relative relief) and land variables (land title status) are the most dominant variables. The analysis of the driving force of carbon stock change represents a crucial aspect of land use management and the control of land use change from areas with high to low carbon stock. In order to maintain the balance of carbon stock reserves, it is essential to optimise mangrove areas and implement reforestation initiatives in forest areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resource depletion is one of the primary concerns of modern agriculture farmers, which needs to be considered for long term sustainability. To assess the effect of sesame stalk compost on the growth, yield, and quality of sesame under organic cultivation, long-term (four years) field experiments were conducted for eight seasons consecutively from 2020 to 2023. The inoculated composts collected after 90 days of composting contain N (1.45–1.50%), P (0.22–25%), K (0.23–0.25%), Fe (510–514 ppm), Zn (150–154 ppm), Cu (286–288 ppm), and Mn (540–542 ppm), which was higher than the uninoculated sesame stalk. Similarly, the humic acid content (122 mg/g of compost), fulvic acid (23–24 mg/g of compost), total humic substances (145–146 mg/g of compost), and CO2–C evolution (186–188 mg/100 g of compost) were significantly higher with microbial inoculated composts than uninoculated compost. The results of the long-term field experiment indicated that application of sesame stalk compost @ 5 t/ha significantly increased the soil organic carbon (6.30 g/kg), soil organic carbon (SOC) stock (11.8 mg/ha), raised the pH to neutralize the acidic pH in red lateritic soil (6.8 to 7.2), reduced the soil bulk density (1.38 to 1.34), penetration resistance (720 kpa to 630 kpa), and available N, P, and K. As a result, the sesame grain yield obtained with application of sesame stalk compost @ 5 t/ha (778–782 kg/ha) was comparable with recommended doses of chemical fertilizers (794 kg/ha). Significant improvement in grain quality (24.2% of protein, 418–422 ppm of Ca, 12.4–12.6 ppm of Zn, 9.6 ppm of Fe and 2.6 ppm of Cu) and oil yield (364.1–367.5 kg/ha) was also observed due to the application of microbial inoculated sesame stalk compost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to analyze the existing conditions and prediction of future carbon stocks in the planting of mangroves of the REMAJA PHE ONWJ program in Mekarpohaci Village, Karawang Regency, Indonesia. The observation began with the planting of 1200 seedlings of R. mucronata and A. marina, respectively. Furthermore, the monitoring of life graduation and diameter growth in the 2021-2023 period was carried out. Existing carbon stocks were analyzed by an allometric equation approach and carbon fraction values. Meanwhile, the prediction of future carbon stocks was modeled using Stella v.9.0.2 software concerning the growth rate of seedling stand diameter. The results of the study showed that carbon stocks reached 0.275 tons C in 2021, 3.66 tons C in 2022, and 5,765 tons C in 2023. Meanwhile, future carbon stock predictions indicate that the largest carbon stock in the 10-year growth projection is found in R. mucronata, with a value of 107.79kg C/tree, which includes 5.80kg AGC and 31.99kg BGC. In contrast, A. marina has the lowest carbon stock at 75.54kg C/tree (52.54kg AGC and 22.99kg BGC). The total contribution of carbon sequestration by 2033 is projected to reach 807.36 tons of CO2e, comprised of 474.69 tons of CO2e from R. mucronata and 332.67 tons of CO2e from A. marina. The carbon sequestration indicates that mangrove planting in the REMAJA PHE ONWJ program contributes to the reduction of CO2 gas concentrations in the atmosphere and climate change mitigation and can realize the principles of sustainable development (SDGs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contribution of belowground plant residues to soil carbon stock is estimated and the main factors potentially influencing the stock of root detritus are analyzed in 67 test plots situated in different natural-climatic zones of the Krasnoyarsk region and mountain forests of the western and eastern Cisbaikalia (Irkutsk oblast and Republic of Buryatia). The studies involve both the undisturbed old-growth forests and the forest ecosystems affected by clear cutting, wildfires, and aerotechnogenic pollution. The carbon stock in root residues is comparable to that in the forest litter and is even 1.3–1.9-fold larger in some cases, accounting for 3.6–167% of the carbon stock in soil humus. This stock and its contribution to the soil carbon pool of organic matter depend on the forest-forming species, soil type, and natural- climatic zone and can significantly increase as a result of impacts that disturb the aboveground vegetation and the pool of plant residues on soil surface. The underestimation of this component when assessing the forest ecosystem carbon budgets can lead to the underestimation of total soil carbon stock by 5–32% in undisturbed forest ecosystems and up to 40% after various disturbances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest above-ground carbon stock (AGCS) is one of the primary ecological evaluation indicators, so it is crucial to estimate the AGCS accurately. In this research, we added the climatic and topographic factors to the estimation process by a remote sensing approach to explore their impact and to achieve more precise estimations. We hope to develop a more accurate estimation method for AGCS based on remote sensing data and climate data. The random forest (RF) method has good robustness and wide applicability. Therefore, we modeled and predicted the AGCS by RF based on sixty field sample plots of Pinus densata pure forests in southwest China and the factors extracted from Landsat 8 OLI images (source I), Sentinel-2A images (source II), and combined Landsat 8 OLI and Sentinel-2A images (source III). We added the topographic and climatic factors to establish the AGCS estimation model and compared the results. The topographic factors contain elevation, slope, and aspect. Climatic factors contain mean annual temperature, annual precipitation, annual potential evapotranspiration, and monthly mean potential evapotranspiration. It was found that the R2 and RMSE of the model based on source III were better than the R2 and RMSE of the models based on source I and source II. Compared to the models based on source I and source II, the model based on source III improved R2 by up to 0.08, reduced RMSE by up to 2.88 t/ha, and improved P by up to 4.29%. Among the models without adding factors, the model based on source III worked the best, with an R2 of 0.87, an RMSE of 10.81 t/ha, an rRMSE of 23.19%, and a P of 79.71%. Among the models that added topographic factors, the model based on source III worked best after adding elevation, with an R2 of 0.89, an RMSE of 10.01 t/ha, an rRMSE of 21.47%, and a P of 82.17%. Among the models that added climatic factors, the model that added the annual precipitation factor had the best modeling result, with an R2 of 0.90, an RMSE of 9.53 t/ha, an rRMSE of 20.59%, and a P of 83.00%. The prediction result exhibited that the AGCS of the Pinus densata forest in 2021 was 9,737,487.52 t. The combination of Landsat 8 OLI and Sentinel-2A could improve the prediction accuracy of the AGCS. The addition of annual precipitation can effectively improve the accuracy of AGCS estimation. Higher resolution of climate data is needed to enhance the modeling in future work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon (C) losses due to the conversion of natural forests adversely affect the biotic and abiotic components of terrestrial ecosystems. In tropical China, rubber cultivation often extends from its traditional range to elevations of up to 1400 m. However, C stock in rubber plantations along elevation gradients is poorly understood. In this study, we investigated biomass and C stock along elevation gradients in two age groups (8- and 12-year-old) of rubber monoculture plantations in Xishuangbanna, Southwest China. The C distribution across various tree sections, ranging from aboveground biomass (AGB) to belowground biomass (BGB), including litter, big dead branches, and different soil depths were measured. A significant negative correlation was observed between AGB, BGB, litter, and total ecosystem C stocks and elevation gradients in both age groups. However, no correlation was observed between the total soil C stock and elevation gradients in 8-year-old rubber plantations, while significant decline was detected in 12-year-old rubber plantations. The highest ecosystem C stock of 197.90 Mg C ha−1 was recorded at 900 m in 8-year-old plantations; whereas, in 12-year-old rubber plantations, the highest value of 183.12 Mg C ha−1 was found at 700 m. The total ecosystem C stock decreased to their lowest level at 1000 m in both the 8-year-old and 12-year-old plantations, ranging between 113.05 Mg C ha−1 and 125.75 Mg C ha−1, respectively. Moreover, total ecosystem C stock significantly decreased from 51.55% to 8.05% and from 42.96% to 11.46% between 700 m and 1100 m, in both 8-year-old and 12-year-old plantations, respectively. Regardless of elevation gradients, the total ecosystem C stock of 12-year-old rubber plantations was 1.98% greater than that of 8-year-old rubber plantations. Biomass was the second largest contributor, while soil accounted for 82% to 90%, and the other components contributed less than 2% of the total ecosystem C stock in both age groups. These fluctuations in C stock along elevation gradients in both 8- and 12-year-old plantations suggested that rubber growth, biomass, and C stock capacity decreased above 900 m, and that age and elevation are key factors for biomass and C stock in rubber monoculture plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global warming is a critical factor driving climate change, impacting every aspect of life on Earth. The escalating concentration of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere, the primary contributor to global warming, necessitates immediate action through effective climate mitigation strategies. This study aimed to quantify the biomass and blue carbon stocks in the eastern coastal mangrove forests of North Sumatra and Aceh Provinces in Indonesia, focusing on key sites in Langkat, Deli Serdang, Batu Bara, Tanjung Balai, and Aceh Tamiang Regencies. We measured carbon stock in three carbon pools: biomass (above and below ground), necromass, and soil. By analyzing tree stands using parameters such as tree height and diameter at breast height within circular plots (7 m in radius, 125 m apart), we gathered fundamental data on forest structure, species composition, and above- and below-ground biomass. Additionally, we collected soil samples at various points and depths, measuring the amount of wood, stems, or branches (necromass) that fell to or died on the forest floor. Data were collected in plots along a line transect, comprising three transects and six circular plots each. Sixteen diverse mangrove species were found, demonstrating rich mangrove biodiversity. The mangrove forests in the five regencies exhibited significant carbon storage potential, with estimated average above-ground carbon ranging from 96 to 356 MgC/ha and average below-ground carbon from 28 to 153 MgC/ha. The estimated average deadwood carbon varied between 50 and 91 MgC/ha, while soil carbon ranged from 1200 to 2500 MgC/ha. These findings underscore the significant carbon storage potential of these mangrove forests, highlighting their importance to global carbon cycling and climate change mitigation. This research contributes to a broader understanding of mangroves as vital blue carbon ecosystems, emphasizing the necessity of conservation efforts such as forest restoration and rehabilitation to enhance their role in stabilizing coastal areas and improving global climate resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a changing climate, conservation tillage and agronomic biofortification are essential for enhancing crop yield, nutritional security, carbon stocks, and soil quality. Consequently, a field study was conducted in central India to assess the short‐term (4 years) effects of crop establishment techniques (CETs) and agronomic biofortification methods (ABMs) on soil health indicators, grain yield, and quality in the soybean–wheat cropping system. The experiment followed a split‐plot design with two CETs in the main plots (permanent broad bed furrow, PBBF, and conventional tillage, CT) and eight ABMs, each with three replications. The results indicated that PBBF and ABMs (seed inoculation with the microbial strains MDSR 14 + MDSR 34, and soil and foliar application of Zn+Fe) improved soil carbon stock (by 49.6% and 52.4%), available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, available Zn (by 30.0%), and Fe (by 21.9%) after the fourth year of the study. Similarly, PBBF and microbial inoculation increased soil enzyme activities (dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase, and β‐glucosidase), substrate‐induced respiration, and microbial biomass carbon content. As a result, a higher soybean equivalent yield (5.59% higher in PBBF and 14.2% higher with foliar spray of Zn+Fe) and seed quality attributes (crude protein yield, grain Zn, and Fe) were observed in PBBF and the foliar spray of Zn and Fe treatments compared to CT and control, respectively. Overall, adopting the short‐term PBBF system, microbial inoculation, and soil and foliar application of Zn and Fe improved rhizosphere biochemical properties, yield, and seed quality in the soybean–wheat system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid increase in carbon and other greenhouse gases is likely to change the regional and global temperature, and planning of these gases is needed. The present study focused on National Highway-16 of the Srikakulam district, which was upgraded from 4 to 6 lane standards to facilitate traffic. This study intended to compute the carbon sequestration and storage capacity of above and belowground biomass. This helps in the comparison and impact of the road project on flora and its carbon pool, from where future tree stock changes can be prepared. A total of 1930 plots were constructed of criss-crosses of equal size (2 × 100 m). All woody trees with dbh ≥ 30 cm were considered and their diameters were measured. A total of 29 tree species belonging to 13 families were identified; the quantity of macrobiotic carbon sequestered as a whole, i.e., above and below ground, was 768,890.29 tC and 199,911.48 tC, respectively. The mean sequestration rate of carbon as biomass above ground was 1.19 tC/tree, and that below ground was 0.31 tC/tree. The estimated average C-Stock per tree was 1.5 tC; however, the mean C-Stock per quadrate was 250.2 tC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in land use from high-nature-value grasslands to arable fields reduce the organic carbon stock in soil, increasing atmospheric carbon concentrations. Maintaining grasslands through traditional agricultural techniques can mitigate climate change by transferring atmospheric carbon to the soil. Benefits of soil organic carbon sequestration include improved soil properties and enhanced ecosystem services and biodiversity. With Romania's ratification of the Paris Agreement, it is crucial to review climate-related agricultural policies and incentivize carbon sequestration practices in organic soils. This paper presents a soil carbon study in Transylvania's Târnava Mare region, Romania, known for its preserved cultural landscapes. Soil samples were taken at a depth of 60 cm to assess organic carbon pools under grassland and arable land management across three soil classes: Cernisoils, Hidrisoils, and Luvisoils. Several statistical tests were applied to evaluate the most significant drivers of soil organic carbon sequestration including land use, soil class, and soil depth. The results indicate that land management has the largest impact, with grasslands storing 45% more carbon than arable land on average. This finding should be integrated into national climate action plans, prioritizing the preservation of grasslands and sustainable agricultural practices to support soil organic carbon sequestration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tibetan Plateau, as one of the most carbon intensive regions in China, is crucial in the carbon cycle, and accurately estimating its vegetation carbon density (CVEG) is essential for assessing regional and national carbon balance. However, the spatial distribution of regional CVEG is not available remains highly uncertain due to lack of systematic research, especially for different organs. Here, we investigated the spatial distribution patterns and driving factors of CVEG among different plant organs (leaf, branch, trunk and root) by systematically field grid-sampling 2040 field-plots of plant communities over the Tibetan Plateau from 2019 to 2020. The results showed that the carbon content of plant organs ranged from 255.53 to 515.58 g kg–1, with the highest in branches and the lowest in roots. Among the different plant functional groups, the highest CVEG was found in evergreen coniferous forests, and the lowest in desert grasslands, with an average CVEG of 1603.98 g m–2. CVEG increased spatially from northwest to southeast over the Tibetan Plateau, with MAP being the dominant factor. Furthermore, the total vegetation carbon stock on the Tibetan Plateau was estimated to be 1965.62 Tg for all vegetation types. Based on the comprehensive field survey dataset, the Random Forest model effectively predicted and mapped the spatial distribution of CVEG (including aboveground, belowground, and the total biomass carbon density) over the Tibetan Plateau with notable accuracy (validation R2 values were 71%, 56%, and 64% for CAGB, CBGB, and CVEG, respectively) at a spatial resolution of 1 km × 1 km. Our findings can help improve the accuracy of regional carbon stock estimations and provide parameters for carbon cycle model optimization and remote sensing calibration in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Efforts to enhance carbon stocks and boost carbon absorption potential are essential for climate change mitigation. Peatland ecosystems, known for their high organic content, are particularly vulnerable to environmental management. The study aimed to examine the alterations in land use and land cover that occurred between 1998 and 2022, spanning a 24-year duration. Additionally, it sought to assess the associated variations in carbon stocks within the designated Kepau Jaya specific purpose forest area. The area under investigation encompasses a peatland ecosystem that has experienced substantial changes in land cover and land use. This study investigated the fluctuations in carbon stock caused by these alterations and provides valuable perspectives on the potential of agroforestry systems to promote a wider range of land uses. Additionally, it highlights their role in ecosystem restoration initiatives and the better management of forest peatland regions. METHODS: A spatial analysis was conducted on Landsat 5 and 8 satellite images by using shapefile data stored within the Google Earth Engine platform. Data analysis was carried out using Classification and Regression Tree, a decision tree algorithm used in machine learning for guided classification. Furthermore, purposive sampling was utilized to gather socioeconomic data, followed by the implementation of a benefit-cost analysis. FINDINGS: The results revealed significant changes in the land cover within the Kepau Jaya specific purpose forest area over a 24-year period, with forested areas and open areas decreasing by 23.15 hectares per year and 16.94 hectares per year respectively, and oil palm plantation areas expanding by 40.10 hectares per year. From 1998 to 2022, there has been a consistent annual decline in carbon stocks, resulting in a reduction of 1,933.11 tons of carbon per year. The changes in land use and cover are closely linked to this decline. In an effort to increase plant species diversity in the area and support the gradual transition away from monoculture, a participatory agroforestry scheme was implemented by intercropping Coffea liberica and Shorea balangeran between oil palm rows in a 2-hectare oil palm plantation block within the agroforestry demonstration plot. According to measurements taken at breast height, the aboveground biomass of these species was measured, leading to projected estimates of carbon stocks in Kepau Jaya specific purpose forest area reaching 19,455 tonnes of carbon by the year 2030, with Coffea liberica contributing 4,148 tonnes carbon and Shorea balangeran contributing 15,307 tonnes carbon. CONCLUSION: The study area experienced a substantial reduction in forest cover, whereas the extent of oil palm areas expanded significantly. The findings underscore the need for proactive measures to strengthen the governance of specific-purpose forest areas through community empowerment and the establishment of demonstration plots to promote agroforestry development. The results of this study provide insights for long-term forest rehabilitation strategies aimed at fostering sustainable forest management that yields environmental and socio-economic benefits in the long run. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study uses GIS to assess the extent of deforestation, forest degradation, and carbon stock in East Java, Indonesia. The dataset for this study required preprocessing and proper GIS analysis tools to track and quantify land cover changes, specifically deforestation and forest degradation from 1990 to 2022. The results show that East Java has experienced significant deforestation and forest degradation, with a total deforested area of approximately 180,000 hectares and a degraded forest area of around 270,000 hectares. Among the subregions, Malang had the highest deforestation rate, with a total area of 42,605 hectares, while Banyuwangi had the highest forest degradation, with around 64,782 hectares affected. Primary mangrove forest in East Java has decreased from approximately 15,000 hectares in 1990 to around 9,000 hectares in 2022. Furthermore, the study estimated the carbon stock changes over the study period. The total carbon stock in 1990 was around 196 million tonnes, but by 2022 it had decreased to approximately 156 million tonnes. The difference in carbon stock between 1990 and 2022 is approximately 40 million tonnes of carbon. Analyzing carbon stock with remote sensing and GIS will give faster results than the manual approach. These findings highlight the urgent need for effective forest management and conservation measures in East Java to mitigate further environmental degradation and carbon emissions. Integrating GIS-based forest monitoring techniques provides a valuable tool for assessing land cover changes and their impact on carbon stock, enabling informed decision-making for sustainable land use planning and conservation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Philippines has very few studies in terms of biomass production and carbon stocks in reforestation sites and the level of emission that has been avoided due to forest protection activities. Most of carbon stock estimates being used in the country are based on secondary data or studies in other countries using the same species. The study aimed to provide a reliable assessment on the contribution of reforestation sites in biomass production and carbon stocks and the potential of these plantation to contribute to the climate change mitigation efforts in the Philippines. The guideline prepared by the Philippines’ Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Forest Management Bureau (DENR-FMB) in 2021 on Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) which follows the manual of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Forestry Department in conducting FRA was used during data collection. A tract was established in the southern portion of the reforestation site wherein the species planted in 2012 are already very prominent and their diameter at breast height (DBH) and total height were measured and their corresponding wood specific gravity were taken into account. Carbon stocks were estimated using Chave et al.’s and Brown’s allometric equations. The estimated carbon stocks using Chave et al.’s formula is 542.3 tC/ha while the estimated carbon stock using Brown’s formula is 2001.6 tC/ha. The results of computation using Brown’s equation are considerably higher than the results using Chave et al.’s equation considering that Brown’s equation only took into consideration the DBH of trees while Chave et al.’s equation included the height and wood specific gravity of each species. The study demonstrated how important our forests in terms of their roles as carbon sinks and therefore contribute to our country’s efforts in climate change mitigation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Efforts to enhance carbon stocks and boost carbon absorption potential are essential for climate change mitigation. Peatland ecosystems, known for their high organic content, are particularly vulnerable to environmental management. The study aimed to examine the alterations in land use and land cover that occurred between 1998 and 2022, spanning a 24-year duration. Additionally, it sought to assess the associated variations in carbon stocks within the designated Kepau Jaya specific purpose forest area. The area under investigation encompasses a peatland ecosystem that has experienced substantial changes in land cover and land use. This study investigated the fluctuations in carbon stock caused by these alterations and provides valuable perspectives on the potential of agroforestry systems to promote a wider range of land uses. Additionally, it highlights their role in ecosystem restoration initiatives and the better management of forest peatland regions.METHODS: A spatial analysis was conducted on Landsat 5 and 8 satellite images by using shapefile data stored within the Google Earth Engine platform. Data analysis was carried out using Classification and Regression Tree, a decision tree algorithm used in machine learning for guided classification. Furthermore, purposive sampling was utilized to gather socioeconomic data, followed by the implementation of a benefit-cost analysis.FINDINGS: The results revealed significant changes in the land cover within the Kepau Jaya specific purpose forest area over a 24-year period, with forested areas and open areas decreasing by 23.15 hectares per year and 16.94 hectares per year respectively, and oil palm plantation areas expanding by 40.10 hectares per year. From 1998 to 2022, there has been a consistent annual decline in carbon stocks, resulting in a reduction of 1,933.11 tons of carbon per year. The changes in land use and cover are closely linked to this decline. In an effort to increase plant species diversity in the area and support the gradual transition away from monoculture, a participatory agroforestry scheme was implemented by intercropping Coffea liberica and Shorea balangeran between oil palm rows in a 2-hectare oil palm plantation block within the agroforestry demonstration plot. According to measurements taken at breast height, the aboveground biomass of these species was measured, leading to projected estimates of carbon stocks in Kepau Jaya specific purpose forest area reaching 19,455 tonnes of carbon by the year 2030, with Coffea liberica contributing 4,148 tonnes carbon and Shorea balangeran contributing 15,307 tonnes carbon. CONCLUSION: The study area experienced a substantial reduction in forest cover, whereas the extent of oil palm areas expanded significantly. The findings underscore the need for proactive measures to strengthen the governance of specific-purpose forest areas through community empowerment and the establishment of demonstration plots to promote agroforestry development. The results of this study provide insights for long-term forest rehabilitation strategies aimed at fostering sustainable forest management that yields environmental and socio-economic benefits in the long run.

Abstract Background Implementing large-scale carbon sink afforestation may contribute to carbon neutrality targets and increase the economic benefits of forests in rural areas. However, how to manage planted forests in China to maximize the joint benefits of timber production and carbon sequestration is still unclear. Therefore, the present study quantified the effects of different rotation lengths, thinning treatments, site quality (SCI), stand density (SDI), and management costs on the joint benefits of carbon sequestration and timber production based on a stand-level model system developed for larch plantations in northeast China. Results The performances of the different scenarios on carbon stocks were satisfactory, where the variations in the outcomes of final carbon stocks could be explained by up to 90%. The joint benefits increased significantly with the increases of SDIs and SCIs, regardless of which rotation length and thinning treatments were evaluated. Early thinning treatments decreased the joint benefits significantly by approximately 131.53% and 32.16% of middle- and higher-SDIs, however longer rotations (60 years) could enlarge it by approximately 71.39% and 80.27% in scenarios with and without thinning when compared with a shorter rotation length (40 years). Discount rates and timber prices were the two most important variables affecting joint benefits, while the effects of carbon prices were not as significant as expected in the current trading market in China. Conclusions The management plans that promote longer rotations, higher stand densities, and no thinning treatments can maximize the joint benefits of carbon sequestration afforestation and timber production from larch plantations located in northeast China. Graphical Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Mangroves play a crucial role in mitigating climate change by absorbing carbon stocks. However, there is a lack of information on mangrove distribution and their carbon absorption abilities. Therefore, this study aimed to bridge this gap by gathering data on the ability of mangrove forest areas to absorb carbon stocks. Specifically, this study aims to assess the carbon absorption potential of the Lantebung mangrove ecosystem through field surveys, allometric calculations, and unmanned aerial vehicle imagery.METHODS: The methodology employed in this study consisted of field surveys, allometric calculations, and multispectral aerial imagery processing along the coastal of Makassar City, South Sulawesi, within the Lantebung mangrove ecosystem. Field surveys were conducted to determine the species composition of each mangrove stand and measure their diameter at breast height. The allometric formula was then used to calculate mangrove biomass, which was subsequently converted into carbon stock values. Aerial imagery was processed using the normalized difference vegetation index, followed by a regression analysis between normalized difference vegetation index and carbon stock values to obtain a carbon stock estimation model.FINDINGS: The results of the analysis of red-green-blue aerial imagery from the multispectral unmanned aerial vehicle has provided valuable insights into the extent of mangrove vegetation cover in the Lantebung mangrove forest area, revealing it to be 14.18 hectares. The normalized difference vegetation index results indicated that mangrove objects fall within a value range of 0.21–1, categorized into three density classes: high-, medium-, and low-density mangroves. The field surveys confirmed the presence of three types of mangroves in Lantebung Makassar, namely Rhizophora apiculata, Rhizophora mucronata, and Avicennia sp. The regression analysis conducted to assess the relationship between the normalized difference vegetation index value and carbon stocks yielded the equation model carbon stock = 474.61, vegetation Index value + 17.238, with a linear regression value of 0.7945. The carbon stock values for low-density class mangrove areas were predicted to range between 17.24 and 288.64 tons carbon per hectare, medium-density mangroves' carbon stocks to be between 126.04 and 391.14 tons carbon per hectare, and high-density mangrove areas' carbon stocks to range from 258.04 to 491.85 tons carbon per hectare.CONCLUSION: The utilization of drones as a technique for monitoring carbon stocks has offered significant benefits. Drones equipped with multispectral sensors enable the collection of precise and comprehensive data on vegetation and elevation in many ecological systems. The survey and subsequent analysis highlighted the wide variation in the density of mangrove forests in the Lantebung mangrove ecosystem. This study demonstrated a strong correlation between the normalized difference vegetation index extracted using unmanned aerial vehicle and mangrove carbon levels obtained from actual field measurements.

Economic, social, and ecological aspects of the environment are all impacted differently by mining in different parts of the world. When mining activities end and leave the area bare, rehabilitation and revegetation are required to minimize the impacts of mining in general. By fixing carbon in tree biomass, these interventions have a positive effect on increasing carbon storage. Measuring carbon stock is essential to evaluating the effectiveness of these interventions. This study was conducted in an inactive mining area in Marinduque, Philippines. Plots for sampling were created in areas that were not yet undergoing rehabilitation as well as those that were. The above-ground carbon stock and biomass were estimated using the allometric equation provided by IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) and Sourcebook for Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry Projects as references, respectively. The results for areas undergoing rehabilitation and those that were not indicated 4.297 t/ha and 0.0509 t/ha, respectively. The former has an above-ground carbon stock of 2.1485 t/ha, and the latter has 0.2545 t/ha. This shows a successful increase in biomass and carbon stock in the area undergoing rehabilitation. This comparison suggests that rehabilitation and revegetation should be implemented in mining areas to help mitigate the impacts of mining while also sequestering carbon. Policies and activities that will protect the current rehabilitation efforts and expand this rehabilitation to other inactive mining areas should be incorporated for future research.

Integrated farming system (IFS) aims to diversify the agricultural landscapes by incorporating different components to meet the multifarious needs of the burgeoning population. The present study was undertaken to understand the impact of different cropping systems on soil organic carbon (SOC) stock, aggregate distribution, and aggregate associated organic carbon (AAOC) in 2-IFS models of varying sizes (0.4 and 0.8 ha) established during 2008-2009. After 10 years of the study, the fodder system registered the greatest TOC and carbon stocks across IFS models, with surface soil (0-15 cm) accumulating 17 and 13% higher TOC and C stock, respectively, in 0.4 and 0.8 ha models. In 0-15 cm, macroaggregates (Ma) represented the highest proportion (75-76%) in both models. Among cropping systems, the fodder system recorded the highest large macroaggregates in both IFS models. Within 0-30 cm depth, small macroaggregates are mostly found in the perennial system (fodder, guava+turmeric, and lemon intercropping system), indicating the potential to improve the aggregate stability over the seasonal (shorter duration) system. In general, micro aggregate (Mi) fraction was pre-dominant in sub-surface soil (17.35%). The maximum AAOC was found in Ma compared to Mi fractions, with approximately 67 and 63% of total carbon associated with Ma in 0.4 and 0.8 ha IFS models, respectively. Interestingly, the 0.8 ha IFS model had higher TOC (~11%) and carbon stock (~12%) than the 0.4 ha model, but AAOC did not show a similar result, indicating the influence of cropping systems on AAOC. The study indicated that the fodder-based production system had better performance in terms of soil physical health and increased aggregate stability and content of soil carbon. This is indicative of the advantages of perennial-based systems over seasonal- or annual-based cropping systems for soil sustainability in Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tree plantations are an important forest resource that substantively contributes to climate change mitigation and carbon sequestration. As the area and standing volume of tree plantations in China have increased, issues such as unreasonable structure, low productivity, limited ecological functionality and diminishing ecological stability have occurred, which hinder the ability of tree plantations to enhance carbon sequestration. This study outlined the trajectory of carbon sequestration and its associated benefits in tree plantations by examining the current state of tree plantation establishment and growth, elucidated the strategies for advantages of carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation in planted forests, and summarized the existing problems with tree plantations. This paper underscores the pressing need for concerted efforts to boost carbon sequestration within planted forests and proposes management and development strategies for Chinese tree plantations. In the future, it will be necessary to apply scientific theories to practice and develop multi-objective management optimization models for the high-quality development of tree plantations. This will involve establishing a cohesive national carbon trading market, improving the prediction of carbon sequestration, and identifying priority zones for afforestation and reforestation, to better serve China's national strategy for achieving peak carbon and carbon neutrality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estimation of plant community composition, aboveground biomass and carbon stock is crucial for understanding forest ecology, strengthening environmental management, and developing effective tools and policies for forest restoration. This study was conducted in nine different forest reserves in Sri Lanka from 2012 to 2018 to examine the impact of community-based forest restoration (CBFR) on stand structural attributes, aboveground biomass, and carbon stock compared to state-managed forests. In total, 180 plots (90 plots in community-managed restoration blocks (CMRBs) and 90 plots assigned to state-managed restoration blocks (SMRBs)) were sampled at the study site. To conduct an inventory of standing trees, circular plots with a radius of 12.6 m (equivalent to an area of 500 square meters) were established. The Shannon diversity index, Allometric equations and Difference in Differences (DID) estimation were used to assess the data. Our study provides evidence of the positive impact of the CBFR program on enriching trees diversity. Considering stand structural attributes of both blocks showed higher trees density in the smaller diameter at breast height (DBH) category, indicating growth in both CMRBs and SMRBs. The results showed that tree biomass and carbon density were disproportionally distributed across the nine different forest reserves. On average, tree biomass and carbon density were higher in SMRBs (79.97 Mg ha−1, 37.58 Mg C ha−1) compared to CMRBs (33.51 Mg ha−1, 15.74 Mg C ha−1). However, CMRBs in Madigala reserve represent the highest biomass (56.53 and 59.92 Mg ha−1) and carbon density (26.57 and 28.16 Mg C ha−1). The results of biomass and carbon estimates were higher in all SMRBs in the nine different forest reserves compared to CMRBs. The findings suggest that future forest restoration programs in Sri Lanka should enhance participatory approaches to optimize tree species diversity, density and carbon storage, particularly in community-controlled forests. Our findings could assist developing tropical nations in understanding how CBFR impacts forest restoration objectives and improves the provision of ecological services within forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term excessive use of fertilizers and intensive cultivation not only decreases soil organic carbon (SOC) and productivity, but also increases greenhouse gas emissions, which is detrimental to sustainable agricultural development. The purpose of this paper is to identify organic amendments suitable for winter wheat growth in the North China Plain by studying the effects of organic amendments on the economic benefits, carbon emissions, and carbon sequestration for winter wheat fields and to provide a theoretical basis for the wide application of organic amendments in agricultural fields. The two nitrogen rates were N0 (0 kg ha−1) and N240 (240 kg ha−1), and the four organic amendments were straw, manure, mushroom residue (M R), and biochar. The results showed that, compared to N0, N240 significantly increased the yield by 244.1–318.4% and the organic carbon storage by 16.7–30.5%, respectively, but increased the carbon emissions by 29.3–45.5%. In addition, soil carbon stocks increased with all three types of organic amendments compared to the straw amendment, with the biochar treatment being the largest, increasing carbon storage by 13.3–33.6%. In terms of yield and economic benefits, compared to the straw amendment, the manure and biochar amendments increased winter wheat yields by 0.0–1.5% and 4.0–13.3%, respectively, and M R slightly decreased wheat yield; only the economic benefit of the M R amendment was greater than that of the straw amendment, with an increase in economic benefit of 1.3% and 8.2% in the 2021–2022 and 2022–2023 seasons, respectively. Furthermore, according to the net ecosystem productivity (NEP), N0 was the source of CO2, while N240 was a sink of CO2. The TOPSIS results showed that N240 with a mushroom residue amendment could be recommended for increasing soil carbon stocks and economic benefits for winter wheat in the NCP and similar regions. Low-cost M R can increase farmer motivation and improve soil organic carbon, making a big step forward in the spread of organic materials on farmland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase in atmospheric CO2 leads to global warming and ecological environment deterioration. Carbon storage modeling and assessment can promote the sustainable development of the ecological environment. This paper took Xinjiang as the study area, analyzed the spatial and temporal evolution of land use in four periods from 1990 to 2020, explored the spatial relationship of carbon stocks using the InVEST model, and coupled the GMOP model with the PLUS model to carry out multiple scenarios for the future simulation of land use in the study area. We found (1) Over time, the types with an increasing area were mainly impervious and cropland, and the types with a decreasing area were grassland, snow/ice, and barren; spatially, the types were predominantly barren and grassland, with the conversion of grassland to cropland being more evident in the south of Northern Xinjiang and north of Southern Xinjiang. (2) The evolutionary pattern of terrestrial carbon stocks is increasing and then decreasing in time, and the carbon sink areas are concentrated in the Tarim River Basin and the vicinity of the Ili River; spatially, there are differences in the aggregation between the northern, southern, and eastern borders. By analyzing the transfer in and out of various categories in Xinjiang over the past 30 years, it was obtained that the transfer out of grassland reduced the carbon stock by 5757.84 × 104 t, and the transfer out of Barren increased the carbon stock by 8586.12 × 104 t. (3) The land use layout of the sustainable development scenario is optimal under the conditions of satisfying economic and ecological development. The reduction in terrestrial carbon stocks under the 2020–2030 sustainable development scenario is 209.79 × 104 t, which is smaller than the reduction of 830.79 × 104 t in 2010–2020. Land optimization resulted in a lower loss of carbon stocks and a more rational land-use layout. Future planning in Xinjiang should be based on sustainable development scenarios, integrating land resources, and achieving sustainable economic and ecological development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enunciating the carbon storage across various types of forests is a precondition for comprehending forest ecosystem carbon cycling. However, previous studies regarding forest carbon storage were primarily conducted in the general temperature zones, with a limited understanding of carbon storage in different forest types within climate transition zones. In this study, we employed biomass models to explore the carbon storage in three types of natural secondary forests (Pinus armandii forest, Quercus aliena forest, and Q. aliena–P. armandii mixed forest) in the transition zone between the northern subtropical and warm temperate regions of China. Furthermore, we used the variance decomposition analysis and random forest model to determine the key factors influencing carbon storage in three types of natural secondary forests. Our results indicated that the carbon storage of wood and soil layers in the Q. aliena–P. armandii mixed forest was significantly higher than that in the P. armandii and Q. aliena forests. Total carbon storage was ranked as follows: Q. aliena–P. armandii mixed forest (266.09 t/ha) > P. armandii forest (222.89 t/ha) > Q. aliena forest (212.46 t/ha). Our results also revealed that carbon storage of the wood layer was jointly regulated by environmental factors, plant physiological characteristics, and soil properties, while soil carbon storage was mainly affected by soil properties. These results highlight the significant advantages of mixed conifer–broadleaf forests in carbon storage, emphasizing the importance of mixed natural secondary forests in carbon cycling and ecosystem services. This study provides scientific evidence for enhancing forest carbon sink functions and developing forest conservation and management policies to combat climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Implementing large-scale carbon sink afforestation may contribute to carbon neutrality targets and increase the economic benefits of forests in rural areas. However, how to manage planted forests in China to maximize the joint benefits of timber production and carbon sequestration is still unclear. Therefore, the present study quantified the effects of different rotation lengths, thinning treatments, site quality (SCI), stand density (SDI), and management costs on the joint benefits of carbon sequestration and timber production based on a stand-level model system developed for larch plantations in northeast China. Results: The performances of the different scenarios on carbon stocks were satisfactory, where the variations in the outcomes of final carbon stocks could be explained by up to 90%. The joint benefits increased significantly with the increases of SDIs and SCIs, regardless of which rotation length and thinning treatments were evaluated. Early thinning treatments decreased the joint benefits significantly by approximately 131.53% and 32.16% of middle- and higher-SDIs, however longer rotations (60 years) could enlarge it by approximately 71.39% and 80.27% in scenarios with and without thinning when compared with a shorter rotation length (40 years). Discount rates and timber prices were the two most important variables affecting joint benefits, while the effects of carbon prices were not as significant as expected in the current trading market in China. Conclusions: The management plans that promote longer rotations, higher stand densities, and no thinning treatments can maximize the joint benefits of carbon sequestration afforestation and timber production from larch plantations located in northeast China. Highlights: A compatible model of stand volume and carbon for larch plantations was developed. Thinning decreased the joint benefits of higher SDIs, but longer rotations enlarged it. Discount rates and timber prices predominated the joint benefits. The effects of carbon prices on the joint benefits were unconspicuous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical forests have known ecosystem services, including sequestering atmospheric carbon and fixing it into biomass. Since the revolutionary industrial changes, the atmospheric carbon level has risen during the recent decades, while the global temperature has increased compared to the pre-industrial levels. Furthermore, reducing atmospheric carbon can mitigate global warming and climate change. This study aims to estimate the aboveground biomass and carbon stock in the Pesanggrahan Forest, Malang Regency, East Java, Indonesia, and contribute local information to the vast global literature. This study was conducted in August 2023 and measured all tree species with a diameter >20 cm in a 5-ha area. The results found 208 individuals and 39 species of trees, the aboveground biomass and carbon stock of which were calculated. The total aboveground biomass (AGB) and carbon stock were 4,486 and 2,248 tons C/ha, respectively. Meanwhile, the total forest AGB and carbon stock in the 5-ha sampling area were 224.77 tons/ha and 112.39 tons C/ha, respectively. These findings highlight the cruciality of tropical forest vegetation in carbon storage and their overall role in regional and global ecosystem management in light of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mangroves are an important coastal ecosystem in the global cycle of carbon and climate change mitigation. Unfortunately, a significant loss of mangrove forests has significantly increased carbon emissions over recent years. This research aims to measure the carbon stocks and potential carbon storage of the Tuntang Estuary mangrove forest. Sixteen quadrant plots at six sites were used to collect data on above- and below-ground carbon (roots and sediment). Several published allometric formulas were used for estimating the above and below-ground (root) carbon, while the Walkley and Black method was used to analyze sediment organic carbon. This study showed that the potential of total carbon stocks in this mangrove forest was approximately 0.08 × 106 (± 0.02) Mg C or equivalent to 0.29 × 106 (± 0.05) Mg CO2e. The largest average percentage of carbon stocks (62%) was stored in sediment, 24.57% in mangrove tree biomass, and 13.43% in root biomass. This study discovered that coastal abrasion has a natural effect on mangrove forests and that human activities, particularly aquacultures, also contribute to the low total stock of carbon. The ecotourism site had the highest overall stock of carbon due to the extensive conservation efforts of all stakeholders, including visitors. This study highlights the crucial role of conserving mangroves as a strategy for achieving sustainable development goals, particularly in the context of climate change mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the "dual carbon" issue has become a major focus of the international community. Changes in land use driven by anthropogenic activities have a profound impact on ecosystem structure and carbon cycling. This study quantitatively assesses the spatiotemporal changes in cropland occupation and supplementation in the Pearl River Delta from 2000 to 2020 using the InVEST model, analyzing the spatial clustering of carbon storage changes caused by variations in cropland area. The PLUS model was employed to simulate land-use patterns and the spatial distribution of carbon storage in four future development scenarios. The results indicate the following: (1) From 2000 to 2020, the net change rate of cropland area in the Pearl River Delta was −0.81%, with a decrease of 16.49 km2 in cropland area, primarily converted to built-up land and forest land. (2) Carbon storage in the Pearl River Delta exhibited a pattern of lower values in the center and higher values in the periphery. The terrestrial ecosystem carbon storage in the Pearl River Delta was 534.62 × 106 t in 2000, 518.60 × 106 t in 2010, and 512.57 × 106 t in 2020, showing an overall decreasing trend. The conversion of cropland and forest land was the main reason for the decline in total regional carbon storage. (3) The area of carbon sequestration lost due to cropland occupation was significantly greater than the area of carbon loss compensated by new cropland, indicating an imbalance in the quality of cropland occupation and supplementation as a crucial factor contributing to regional carbon loss. (4) Under the ecological priority scenario, the expansion of built-up land and the reduction in ecological land such as cropland and forest land were effectively controlled, resulting in the minimal loss of carbon storage. The soil organic carbon pool of cropland is the most active carbon pool in terrestrial ecosystems and has a significant impact on carbon storage. Clarifying the relationship between "cropland protection measures–land use changes–ecosystem carbon storage" will improve cropland protection policies, provide references for regional carbon sequestration enhancement, and support sustainable socio-economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analysed the spatiotemporal changes in carbon stocks and Net Ecosystem Productivity (NEP) in Zoige County, Upper Yellow River, from 2000 to 2020 in response to China's ecological civilization ideology and sustainable development. The carbon stock module of the InVEST model and carbon source/sink calculation formula were employed, and GeoDetector was used to analyze driving forces and spatial distributions. The findings were as follows: (1) The land use in Zoige County had undergone significant changes over the past two decades, characterized by a reduction in grassland area due to its conversion into woodland and peat wetland. (2) The carbon stock in Zoige County had consistently increased, accumulating 5.19 × 106 tons. (3) Zoige County had functioned as net ecosystem productivity (NEP) over the past two decades, with increasing trends, averaging 3.335 kg C/m2. (4) The primary driving force behind changes in carbon stock and NEP were identified as 'biological abundance'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixed forests created by incorporating nitrogen-fixing tree species offer enhanced ecological advantages compared with forests consisting of only one type of tree species. These benefits include habitat rehabilitation and the promotion of biodiversity. Nevertheless, the impact of introducing nitrogen-fixing tree species on ecosystem carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) sequestration and storage capacity in the Loess Plateau of China remains inadequately explored. To examine changes in the sequestration and storage capacity of ecosystem C, N, and P, the mixed plantations of P. tabulaeformis and H. rhamnoides (HrPt) were selected as the research object, and the pure plantations of H. rhamnoides (Hr) and P. tabulaeformis (Pt) were selected as the control. The results indicated that in comparison to the pure forest, the ecosystem in HrPt significantly increased C and N stocks but decreased P stocks. In addition, C, N, and P stocks in the soil layer accounted for more than 60% of the C, N, and P stocks in the pure and mixed forest ecosystems compared with the vegetation layer. Moreover, HrPt significantly improved ecosystem C and N sequestration rates relative to the pure forest but decreased P sequestration rates. Furthermore, the soil physicochemical properties can be inferred from the redundancy analysis showing 66.79% and 0.06% in Hr, 44.84% and 0.06% in Pt, as well as 44.28% and 0.04% in HrPt, respectively. In conclusion, compared with the pure forest, the introduction of N-fixing tree species was more conducive to the accumulation of C and N. The results offer substantial significance for the scientific guidance of vegetation restoration in degraded landscapes and the stewardship of mixed forests in the Loess Hilly Region, providing essential data for nutrient storage in ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multispectral data were used to estimate the above-ground forest biomass in the newly established carbon polygon in Bashkortostan. Field measurements were compared with Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Normalised Green-Red Difference Index (NGRDI) obtained from the Global Inventory Monitoring and Modelling System (GIMMS) dataset. The relationship between measured biomass values and vegetation indicators was linear; NDVI has the highest correlation coefficient with above-ground biomass and greatest significance at all sites, so regression relationships with NDVI were used to map the above-ground biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite being one of the most critical ecosystems in regard to biodiversity as well as being an effective storage of carbon, mangrove forests are disappearing globally through deforestation. In this paper, we propose a web-based system to monitor mangrove spatial distribution and calculate the carbon storage valuation using Convolutional Neural Network classification model with of U-Net architecture. This research focuses on the development of localized mangrove classification algorithm that is applicable in Papua, Indonesia using cloud-free Sentinel-2 satellite imagery from the year of 2016. 4 mangrove classes of Delta, Estuary, Lagoon, and Open Coast mangroves along with other classes such as Water, Non Mangroves Forest, Open Ground, and Urban are represented with balanced data points and augmented with Random Forest classifier on the entire Region of Interest as an input to the model. The model were performed sufficiently in distinguishing mangroves and non-mangroves land covers with the best F1-score achieving of 0.96 and a categorical accuracy of 0.96 on the 10th epochs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Communal forests are recognized to be of critical importance for the attainment of sustainable development goals (SDGs) but these are often understudied. Such is the case in Cordillera Central Range with its unique biodiversity and urban biodiversity sites requiring protection like the Alapang Communal Forest in Benguet, Northern Philippines. This study documented the floral diversity, carbon stock and the community perspectives as baseline for conservation. A total of 187 plant species belonging to 145 genera and 70 families were recorded with Pinus kesiya as the most dominant species. The forest exhibited high species richness, evenness, and diversity including indigenous, endemic species and some conservation important species. The total forest carbon was estimated at 6,931.44 t with an average of 192.54 t/ha. An interesting trade off was documented in the study with the pine dominated ridge stations having lower diversity but higher carbon stock while broad-leaf dominated depressed stations have higher diversity but lower carbon stock. Community surveys revealed the willingness to protect the forest due to its crucial role as a water source, highlighting its value and the importance of preservation. These findings offer empirical evidences on the role of communal forest on biodiversity conservation, carbon stock as well as forest goods and services. Locally, these findings offer insights for conservation and sustainable management of the Alapang Communal Forest and other local urban forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomass estimation forms the foundation for tackling global climate issues across diverse land use systems (LUSs). A research initiative was undertaken to identify the maximum biomass allocation using an allometric approach, and to assess the carbon stock, CO2 sequestration, and carbon credit across diverse land use systems (LUSs) in the Vindhyan region of Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, India. This study aims to address climate change by identifying land‐use strategies that stabilize income and are easily adoptable by farmers. Tropical dry deciduous forest, agriculture, plantation, horticulture and agri‐horticulture LUSs were investigated using three combinations of custard apple (Annona squamosa), guava (Psidium guajava), bael (Aegle marmelos), mustard (Giriraj) (Brassica nigra), mustard (Pitambri) (Brassica juncea), and lentil (Lens culinaris) in an agri‐horticulture system. Seven treatments with varying carbon stocks were identified: tropical dry deciduous forest (T1) LUS (TDDFLUS); wheat based agriculture (T2) LUS (WBALUS); plantation based on teak (Tectona grandis) (T3) LUS (TBPLUS); horticulture based on karonda (Carissa carandas) (T4) LUS (KBHLUS); bael + lentil (Hul‐57) (T5) LUS (BLBLUS); guava + mustard (Giriraj) (T6) LUS (GMBLUS); and custard apple + mustard (Pitambri) (T7) LUS (CAMBLUS). The results indicate that the lowest and the highest bulk densities (ρb) were recorded in TDDFLUS and WBALUS at the depths of 0–20 cm and 20‐40 cm, respectively. The mean value of the soil organic carbon (SOC) stock ranged from 11.24–18.09 t ha−1. The average value of biomass, biomass carbon stock and biomass CO2 sequestration of seven treatments varied from 9.76–88.49 t ha−1, 4.88–44.25 t ha−1, and 17.91–162.39 t ha−1, respectively. The total carbon stock, CO2 sequestration, and carbon credit for the seven treatments varied from 16.57–64.64 t ha−1, 60.82–237.28 t ha−1 and 3040.821–11 863.89US$ ha−1, respectively. The results demonstrated that different LUSs have specific advantages and their application at farm level can encourage sustainability and increase biomass accumulation, leading to carbon sequestration. Agri‐horticulture‐based LUSs can lead to better livelihoods and can also offer numerous advantages such as increased yields of staple food crops and fruits, improved soil health, reduced soil erosion, and significant contributions to the mitigation of anthropogenic warming through CO2 sequestration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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At the end of the last century, European Union (EU) energy policies encouraged the use of dedicated short rotation forestry (SRF) plantations in member countries in which fast-growing woody species are grown for energy purposes. Recently, in Italy some SRF plantations developed in the 90s have been abandoned or managed more extensively for economic and environmental reasons. However, these abandoned plantations can play a key role in biodiversity conservation and carbon storage. The present study is aimed to estimate carbon stock (C-stock) in living biomass and deadwood in three abandoned SRF plantations in Central Italy. The C-stock was estimated in three different 20-years SRF plantations (hybrid poplar, willow, black locust) located on the same site and unmanaged for 15 years. The results show a C-stock considering three of five C pools equal to: 47.30 MgC ha−1 for hybrid poplar (65.3% in biomass and 34.7% in deadwood respectively), 23.02 MgC ha−1 for willow (77.6% and 22.4% respectively), and 80.41 MgC ha−1 for black locust (95.9% and 4.1% respectively). Outcomes of this research offer support for the forest restoration practices of similar abandoned SRF plantations. The application of extensive management techniques and the development of the naturalization process will ensure the role of biodiversity reservoir of these plantations, helping their evolution toward semi-natural systems mainly oriented to biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economic, social, and ecological aspects of the environment are all impacted differently by mining in different parts of the world. When mining activities end and leave the area bare, rehabilitation and revegetation are required to minimize the impacts of mining in general. By fixing carbon in tree biomass, these interventions have a positive effect on increasing carbon storage. Measuring carbon stock is essential to evaluating the effectiveness of these interventions. This study was conducted in an inactive mining area in Marinduque, Philippines. Plots for sampling were created in areas that were not yet undergoing rehabilitation as well as those that were. The above-ground carbon stock and biomass were estimated using the allometric equation provided by IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) and Sourcebook for Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry Projects as references, respectively. The results for areas undergoing rehabilitation and those that were not indicated 4.297 t/ha and 0.0509 t/ha, respectively. The former has an above-ground carbon stock of 2.1485 t/ha, and the latter has 0.2545 t/ha. This shows a successful increase in biomass and carbon stock in the area undergoing rehabilitation. This comparison suggests that rehabilitation and revegetation should be implemented in mining areas to help mitigate the impacts of mining while also sequestering carbon. Policies and activities that will protect the current rehabilitation efforts and expand this rehabilitation to other inactive mining areas should be incorporated for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The forests are major resources for carbon sequestration and help to mitigate the adverse effect of atmospheric carbon and reduce global warming. The present study was conducted to estimate the carbon sequestration potential of the Quercus floribunda forests at two different aspects and three altitudes. Ten quadrates of 10 × 10 m size were laid out in each forest for the estimation of stand density, tree biomass, and soil samples were collected from each quadrate. Q. floribunda was the dominating tree at studied altitudes and aspects with the IVI values of 161.14 and 124.96 in the southern aspect and northern aspects, respectively. the highest values of above-ground biomass density (AGBD), below-ground biomass density (BGBD), total biomass density (TBD), and total carbon density (TCD) was recorded at the upper elevation (2500–2700 m) of southern and northern aspects. In the southern aspect values of AGBD (476.67 < 575.67 Mg/ha), BGBD (124.8 < 148.9 Mg/ha), TBD (601.53 < 724 Mg/ha), TCD (300.83 < 362.03 Mg/ha) were higher than northern aspect. The values of AGBD, BGBD, TBD, and TCD were reported maximum (638 Mg/ha, 163.1 Mg/ha, 800.5 Mg/ha, and 400.35 Mg/ha; respectively) in the upper elevation. Soil organic carbon (SOC), soil organic matter (SOM), and soil organic carbon stock (SOCS) decreased with increasing altitudes and depths which were found higher in the southern aspect. Bulk density (BD) and P increased with altitudes and depth however bulk density was equal (1.29 g cc-1) in both aspects whereas P was also found higher (31.43 kg/ha) in the southern aspect. Highest available nitrogen (398 kg/ha) was recorded in the northern aspect at middle altitude. The available potassium was highest in the northern aspect. At lower altitudes, available potassium ranges between 246–615 kg/ha. Soil pH was found slightly acidic in all the sites ranging from 4.91 to 5.74 in different soil depths. Dehydrogenase activity was ranged between 1.35 and 8.74 µg/g/h from lower to upper soil depth and decreased with an increase in soil depths and increased with altitudes, whereas found highest in the southern aspect. The present study suggested that tree density, tree biomass, carbon sequestration potential, and soil health in Q. floribunda forests were substantially influenced by the altitude as well as the aspect. These findings contribute valuable insights for climate change mitigation and forest management strategies in the study region.

Forests, particularly church forests, play a crucial role in mitigating climate change by absorbing and storing CO2, preserving biodiversity, and acting as carbon sinks. This study aimed to estimate the biomass and carbon stocks of various woody species in church forests in the West Gojjam zone. Twenty-six church forests were selected based on agroecology, elevation, size, and proximity to population centers. Vegetation data were collected using a systematic sampling technique, with 20 m x 20 m (400 m2) plots established along transect lines oriented at 120° intervals at 60°, 180°, and 300° within each church forest. Measurements of diameter at breast height (DBH) and height were taken for all matured woody plants with a DBH ≥ 2.5 cm. Data analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA to evaluate the effects of altitude, forest size, and human disturbance on aboveground biomass (AGB) and carbon stocks. Additionally, linear regression was applied to investigate the relationship between vegetation structure (species richness, density, and diversity) and biomass accumulation. The results revealed a total of 111 woody species, dominated by indigenous species particularly from the Fabaceae family. The study church forests had Shannon diversity index and richness ranging from 1.73 to 3.47 and 7 to 45, respectively. The results showed that the 26 church forests had an average aboveground biomass (AGB) of 31.97 ± 3.31 tons ha-1 and a CO2 equivalence of 97.15 ± 10.47 tons ha-1. The AGB and aboveground carbon (AGC) values varied among the church forests, of which Debre Mihret Mesk Kidanemihret had the highest AGB with 99.00 tons ha-1 and 49.50 tons ha-1 AGC, indicating their substantial capacity for carbon storage. Conversely, Korch Silassie church forest displayed the lowest AGB, suggesting ecological challenges that necessitate targeted conservation efforts. These findings underscore the critical role of church forests as carbon sinks, capable of sequestering atmospheric CO2 and contributing to the mitigation of climate change. The findings of the present study suggest the integration of church forests into national and international climate policies, such as REDD+ to leverage their potential in reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.

Land use and land cover changes significantly impact carbon storage capacity, potentially causing long-term climate change, as examined in the Upper Awash Basin over three decades. This study aimed to examine the spatial and temporal dynamics of carbon stocks in the Upper Awash Basin over three decades due to land use and land cover changes. Remote sensing, ArcGIS, and the InVEST model were used to map changes in land use and land cover, as well as changes in carbon storage. The model and software have proven as accurate and useful tools for mapping changes in land use, cover, and carbon storage, allowing researchers to assess environmental impacts, plan conservation strategies, and effectively monitor ecosystems. Between 1993 and 2023, forests, shrublands, and wetlands decreased by 27.7%, 41.7%, and 60.7%, respectively, while cropland and built-up areas increased by 9.7% and 154.7%, respectively. As a result, the overall carbon stock decreased by 15%, from 17,342,625 tons to 14,810,521 tons of carbon. Agriculture expansion, overexploitation of forests for wood and charcoal production, settlement, population growth, and urban development are the primary drivers of carbon loss. Despite the upper Awash River Basin’s importance for carbon storage and sequestration, changes in land use and cover increased carbon emissions, contributing to climate change. Thus, this study highlights the link between land use land cover change and shifts in carbon stocks, emphasizing the importance of sustainable land management practices for maintaining or increasing carbon storage capacity, mitigating the effects of climate change, and improving overall ecosystem function.

AbstractDeadwood, a vital component of forest ecosystems, constitutes a quintessential carbon reservoir that must be disclosed under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. This reservoir, comprising fallen logs, snags, and stumps, markedly affects carbon dynamics over decades. In this study, deadwood carbon stocks were quantified using data from 2674 sites in Japan surveyed between 2011 and 2015 via the National Forest Soil Carbon Inventory, and the deadwood carbon attributes in the country were explored. Deadwood were surveyed using the line intersect method for fallen logs and the belt transect method for stumps and snags. In Japan, the deadwood carbon stock (measured in t-C/ha) was quantified at 7.5 ± 9.74 (mean ± SD), with fallen logs at 3.26 ± 4.43, stumps at 2.45 ± 5.69, and snags at 1.80 ± 5.27, with significant differences detected among these stocks (p