Gj. Nabuurs et Gmj. Mohren, MODELING ANALYSIS OF POTENTIAL CARBON SEQUESTRATION IN SELECTED FOREST TYPES, Canadian journal of forest research, 25(7), 1995, pp. 1157-1172
Ten selected forest types were examined (1) to assess the carbon seque
stering potential of those forest types that are most likely to be suc
cessful in sequestering atmospheric carbon, (2) to show the relevance
of varying carbon sequestering criteria, and (3) to present a method a
s a possible standard for carbon sequestering assessments. The carbon
sequestering potential of the forest, forest soils, and forest product
s was quantified with the dynamic model CO2FIX. Two main criteria for
evaluation of the carbon sequestering capacity were used: (1) the long
-term average stock of carbon in the forest biomass and wood products
and (2) the average net annual carbon storage flux during the first ro
tation. It was found that selectively logged evergreen rain forests ma
y contain the largest long-term average stock of carbon in the biomass
and products, with 207 Mg C . ha(-1). The highest net annual carbon f
ixation in the first rotation was achieved with Pinus radiata D. Don i
n Brazil, with a storage rate of 5.3 Mg C . ha(-1). year(-1) on fertil
e sites. These values can be regarded as maximum boundaries for carbon
sequestration. Evaluation of carbon sequestration in forests should a
lways be carried out with a set of varying carbon sequestering criteri
a. Such an evaluation should also take into account socioeconomic and
ecological criteria. It remains a political issue which criterion prev
ails over the other. A study to improve the model by linking it to for
est type area tables is in preparation. It will then be possible to pr
esent projections of carbon sequestration for a region or country.