CALCULATION OF CO2 NET SINKS EMISSIONS IN RUSSIAN FORESTS AND ASSESSMENT OF MITIGATION OPTIONS

A model for the calculation of CO2 sinks and emissions in boreal fores ts and assessment of measures designed to sequester carbon in the Russ ian forests is described herein. The main features of the model are: c onsideration of all carbon reservoirs, including above- and below-grou nd biomass, litter, dry stems and humus; and an explicit description o f forest dynamics and processes connected with forest fires and loggin g. According to model calculations, Russian forests provided a net sin k of CO2 from the atmosphere of 160 Mt C in the year 1993; this value has the potential to increase in the future. Mitigation options are co nsidered in three categories: an increase of carbon sinks by re- and a fforestation, management practices that reduce carbon sources, and env ironmental preservation projects. As a whole these options could have a mitigation effect that is more than 60 Tg C/yr, equivalent to 10% of the current technogenic CO2 emission in Russia. The realization of th e potential requires huge expenses.