Carbon mitigation potential and costs of forestry options in Brazil,China, India,Indonesia, Mexico,the Philippines and Tanzania

This paper summarizes studies of carbon (C) mitigation potential and costs of about 40 forestry options in seven developing countries. Each study uses the same methodological approach – Comprehensive Mitigation Assessment Process (COMAP) – to estimate the above parameters between 2000 and 2030. The approach requires the projection of baseline and mitigation land-use scenarios. Coupled with data on a per ha basis on C sequestration or avoidance, and costs and benefits, it allows the estimation of monetary benefit per Mg C, and the total costs and carbon potential. The results show that about half (3.0 Pg C) the cumulative mitigation potential of 6.2 Petagram (Pg) C between 2000 and 2030 in the seven countries (about 200× 10⁶ Mg C yr^-1) could be achieved at a negative cost and the remainder at costs ranging up to $100 Mg C^-1. About 5 Pg C could be achieved, at a cost less than $20 per Mg C. Negative cost potential indicates that non-carbon revenue is sufficient to offset direct costs of these options. The achievable potential is likely to be smaller, however, due to market, institutional, and sociocultural barriers that can delay or prevent the implementation of the analyzed options.     

Mitigation Potential for Carbon Sequestration Through Forestry Activities in Southern and Eastern China

In this paper, forest protection, short- and long-rotation plantations, forestregeneration, agroforestry and other activities for carbon (C) sequestration wereevaluated. China may be divided into five sub-regions, of which three fallin the main forested areas of China, i.e., the northeast, the southeast andthe southwest regions. The forestry mitigation potential in these threeregions is the subject of this paper. The Comprehensive Mitigation AssessmentProcess (COMAP) model is used to calculatethe potential for carbon mitigation and the cost-effectiveness of eachmitigation option, assuming that 60 percent of the goals of long-termforestry plans of the Chinese government could be realized. The resultsshow that the total sequestered C by the mitigation scenario between2000 and 2030 for the three regions of China will be 2093 × 10⁶ Mg C, ofwhich 281 × 10⁶ Mg C will occur between 2008 and 2012. The total netbiomass sequestration (difference of mitigation and baseline scenarios) from2000 to 2030 and from 2008 to 2012 is 496 × 10⁶ Mg C and 59 × 10⁶ Mg Crespectively. The C sequestration potential could be higher if othertwo regions are included since the forest area of the two regions amount to26.5% of total forested area, in particular, the land area suitable forforestation in the northwest accounts for 45% of the total. The activitywith least investment cost per unit of C is forest regeneration, followedby long-rotation plantation and forest conservation. The mostinvestment-intensive activity is bioenergy. The total investment for all themitigation activities is US $12.7 billion. The above figures between2008–2012 provide an upper bound on the potential for early startprojects that might be eligible for the Clean Development Mechanism(CDM). The authors would like to note that the mitigation potential andcost-effectiveness of agroforestry and bioenergy projects need to be furtherstudied.     

Economic Assessment of Mitigation Options for Enhancing and Maintaining Carbon Sink Capacity in Indonesia

Land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) projects may becomeeligible under Article 12 of the United Nations Framework Convention onClimate Change (UNFCCC) Kyoto Protocol's Clean DevelopmentMechanism (CDM). Some of the issues, which need to be addressed,include identifying the types of greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation activitiesin LULUCF, which could be undertaken as CDM projects. Other issuesinvolve evaluating the mitigation potential and cost effectiveness of theactivities, as well as their likely socio-economic impacts and their influenceon the national carbon (C) stock. Three broad categories of mitigationactivities in LULUCF analyzed in this study include managing Cstorage, C conservation and carbon substitution. The C intensityof the activities was estimated to range from 37 to 218 Mg C per ha. The highest is in reforested land with slow growing species and the lowestin short-rotation plantations. At a real discount rate of 10%, investmentcosts required to implement the mitigation activities ranged from US$0.07 to 0.88 per Mg C, with life cycle costs ranging from US$ 0.07to 3.87 per Mg C, and benefits ranging from US$ –0.81 to 6.57 perMg C. Mitigation options with negative benefits are forest protection,reforestation, reduced impact logging and enhanced natural regeneration,while those with positive benefits are short rotation timber plantation, andbio-energy. Reforestation gave negative benefit since no revenue fromwood as trees are left in the forest for conservation, while Reduced ImpactLogging (RIL) and Enhanced Natural Regeneration (ENR)gave negative benefits because additional cost required to implement theoptions could not be compensated by the increase in round-hardwoodyield. Other factor is that the local price of round-hardwood is very low,i.e. US$ 160 per m³, while FOB price is between 250–400 US$ per m³. Total area available for implementing mitigationoptions (planting trees) in 1997 was 31 million hectares (× 10⁶ha) (about 40% are critical lands, 35% grasslands and 25%unproductive lands).Total area being considered for implementing the options under baseline,government-plans and mitigation scenarios in the period 2000–2030 is12.6, 16.3 and 23.6 × 10⁶ ha respectively. Furthermore, total area of production forest being considered for implementing reduced impactlogging and enrichment planting under the tree scenarios is 9, 26 and 16 × 10⁶ ha respectively, and that for forest protection is 2.1, 3.7, 3.1× 10⁶ ha respectively. The cumulative investment for implementingall mitigation activities in the three scenarios was estimated at 595, 892and 1026 million US$ respectively. National C stock under thebaseline scenario will continuously decline through 2030, while undergovernment-plans and mitigation scenarios the carbon stock increases. In2030, national C stock of the government and mitigation scenarios isalmost the same, 13% higher than that of baseline. However, the increasein national carbon stock in both scenarios could not offset carbon emissionsdue to deforestation.     

Climate Change Mitigation Activities in the Philippine Forestry Sector: Application of the COMAP Model

The forest sector in the Philippines has the potential to be amajor sink for carbon (C). The present study was conducted to evaluatepotential forestry mitigation options in the Philippines using the Comprehensive Mitigation Assessment Process (COMAP)model. The baseline scenario (BAU) assumes that current trends continue upto the year 2030 (`business-as-usual'). Two mitigation scenarios wereevaluated: high scenario (HS) and low scenario (LS). The former ispatterned largely from the government's forest master plan while thelatter assumes a 50% lower success rate of the master plan.The results of the analyses show that by 2030, the total C stock of thePhilippine forest sector in the baseline scenario decreases to 814× 10⁶ Mg C,down by 37% compared to the 1990 level. The C stocks of the HS andLS mitigation scenarios were 22% and 18% higher than the BAU,respectively. Of the mitigation options assessed, long rotation plantationsand forest protection activities produce the greatest C gain (199 and 104× 10⁶ Mg, respectively under HS). The not present value (NPV)of benefits is highest in the bioenergyoption with $24.48 per Mg C (excluding opportunity costs) at a realdiscount rate of 12%. However, the investment and life cycle costs arealso highest using bioenergy.The study also estimated potential investments needed under the mitigationscenarios. The investment requirement for the LS amounts to $263× 10⁶ while for the HS it is $748 × 10⁶. Finally, policy issues anddecisions that may be useful for the Philippines to evaluate LULUCFmitigation options under the UNFCCC Kyoto Protocol, are identified anddiscussed.     

Forestry for sustainable biomass production and carbon sequesteration in India

A sustainable forestry scenario aimed at meeting the projected biomassdemands, halting deforestation and regenerating degraded forests wasdeveloped and analyzed for additionality of mitigation and cost-effectivenessfor India. Similarly, mitigation potential of a commercial forestry scenarioaimed at meeting the biomass demands from forestry activities on privateland was assessed. India has a significant scale baseline scenario afforestationand effective forest conservation activities. India is afforesting at an averagegross rate of 1.55 × 10⁶ ha yr^-1 over the past 10 years, while the gross deforestation rate was 0.272 × 10⁶ ha yr^-1 during the same period. The sustainable forestry scenario could lead to an additional carbon (C) stock of 237 × 10⁶ Mg C during 2000 to 2012, while the commercial forestry scenario apart from meeting all the incremental biomass demands (estimated for 2000 to 2015) could potentially lead to an additional carbon stock of 78 × 10⁶Mg C during 2000 to 2012. Short- and Long-rotation forestry activities arecommercially viable. With appropriate policies and financial incentives allthe industrial wood, sawnwood and commercial fuelwood requirementcould be met through commercial forestry, so that government funds couldbe dedicated for conserving state owned forests and meeting subsistencebiomass demands. The commercial forestry activities could receive financialsupport under greenhouse gas (GHG) abatement programmes. The government, however, needs to develop institutions and guidelines to process, evaluate, approve and monitor forestry sector mitigation projects.     

Potential and Cost of Carbon Sequestration in the Tanzanian Forest Sector

The forest sector in Tanzania offers ample opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and sequester carbon (C) in terrestrial ecosystems. More than 90% of the country's demand for primary energy is obtained from biomass mostly procured unsustainably from natural forests. This study examines the potential to sequester C through expansion of forest plantations aimed at reducing the dependence on natural forest for wood fuel production, as well as increase the country's output of industrial wood from plantations. These were compared ton conservationoptions in the tropical and miombo ecosystems. Three sequestrationoptions were analyzed, involving the establishment of short rotation and long rotation plantations on about 1.7 × 10⁶ hectares. The short rotation community forestry option has a potential to sequester an equilibrium amount of 197.4 × 10⁶ Mg C by 2024 at a net benefit of 79.5 × 10⁶, while yielding a NPV of 0.46 Mg^-1 C. The long rotation options for softwood and hardwood plantations will reach an equilibrium sequestration of 5.6 and 11.8 × 10⁶ Mg C at a negative NPV of 0.60 Mg^-1 C and 0.32 Mg^-1 C. The three options provide cost competitive opportunities for sequestering about 7.5 × 10⁶ Mg C yr^-1 while providing desired forest products and easing the pressure on the natural forests in Tanzania. The endowment costs of the sequestration options were all found to be cheaper than the emission avoidance cost for conservation options which had an average cost of 1.27 Mg^-1 C, rising to 7.5 Mg^-1 C under some assumptions on vulnerability to encroachment. The estimates shown here may represent the upper bound, because the actual potential will be influenced by market prices for inputs and forest products, land use policy constraints and the structure of global C transactions.     

Estimating net primary production and annual plant carbon inputs, and modelling future changes in soil carbon stocks in arable farmlands of northern Japan

Soil C sequestration in croplands is deemed to be one of the most promising greenhouse gas mitigation options for Japan's agriculture. In this context, changes in soil C stocks in northern Japan's arable farming area over the period of 1971-2010, specifically in the region's typical Andosol (volcanic ash-derived) and non-Andosol soils, were simulated using soil-type-specific versions of the Rothamsted carbon model (RothC). The models were then used to predict the effects, over the period of 2011-2050, of three potential management scenarios: (i) baseline: maintenance of present crop residue returns and green manure crops, as well as composted cattle manure C inputs (24-34 Mg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ applied on 3-55% of arable land according to crop), (ii) cattle manure: all arable fields receive 20 Mg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ of composted cattle manure, increased C inputs from crop residues and present C inputs from green manure are assumed, and (iii) minimum input: all above-ground crop residues removed, no green manure crop, no cattle manure applied. Above- and below-ground residue biomass C inputs contributed by 8 major crops, and oats employed as a green manure crop, were drawn from yield statistics recorded at the township level and crop-specific allometric relationships (e.g. ratio of above-ground residue biomass to harvested biomass on a dry weight basis). Estimated crop net primary production (NPP) ranged from 1.60 Mg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ for adzuki bean to 8.75 Mg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ for silage corn. For the whole region (143 × 10³ ha), overall NPP was estimated at 952 ± 60 Gg C yr⁻¹ (6.66 ± 0.42 Mg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹). Plant C inputs to the soil also varied widely amongst the crops, ranging from 0.50 Mg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ for potato to 3.26 Mg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ for winter wheat. Annual plant C inputs to the soil were estimated at 360 ± 45 Gg C yr⁻¹ (2.52 ± 0.32 Mg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹), representing 38% of the cropland NPP. The RothC simulations suggest that the region's soil C stock (0-30 cm horizon), across all soils, has decreased from 13.96 Tg C (107.5 Mg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) in 1970 to 12.46 Tg C (96.0 Mg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) in 2010. For the baseline, cattle manure and minimum input scenarios, soil C stocks of 12.13, 13.27 and 9.82 Tg C, respectively, were projected for 2050. Over the period of 2011-2050, compared to the baseline scenario, soil C was sequestered (+0.219 Mg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) by enhanced cattle manure application, but was lost (−0.445 Mg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) under the minimum input scenario. The effect of variations of input data (monthly mean temperature, monthly precipitation, plant C inputs and cattle manure C inputs) on the uncertainty of model outputs for each scenario was assessed using a Monte Carlo approach. Taking into account the uncertainty (standard deviation as % of the mean) for the model's outputs for 2050 (5.1-6.1%), it is clear that the minimum input scenario would lead to a rapid decrease in soil C stocks for arable farmlands in northern Japan.     

中原城市群区域碳储量的时空变化和预测研究

为了有效评估中原城市群碳储量,运用灰色预测模型获取动态碳密度数据,结合Dyna-CLUE模型和InVEST模型,动态评估2005~2030年土地利用变化下不同情景的碳储量演变特征,以及城市发展对碳储量的影响.结果表明,2005~2020年中原城市群碳储量分别为1689.59×10⁶t、2035.36×10⁶t、2066.34×10⁶t和2093.05×10⁶t,呈现持续增加趋势;2030年经济发展情景、生态保护情景和经济生态协调发展情景下碳储量分别为2162.45×10⁶t、2179.39×10⁶t和2174.28×10⁶t,经济发展情景下碳储量最低,生态保护情景下碳储量最高.碳储量变化与土地利用面积变化密切相关,主要表现为耕地面积的下降导致其碳储量减少约250×10⁶t,林地面积的扩张导致其碳储量增加约103.4×10⁶t,建设用地的扩张导致其碳储量增加约87.77×10⁶t;耕地和草地面积与总碳储量呈较弱的负相关关系,林地、水域、建设用地和未利用地面积与总碳储量呈较强的正相关关系.2005~2030年中原城市群30个城市的碳储量分别为11.38×10⁶t~214.24×10⁶t,碳储量的变化反映出城市土地碳排放在2030年之前已经达到峰值,且经济生态协调发展情景可能更适合未来城市发展的目标.     

基于能源碳排放预测的中国东部地区达峰策略制定

中国东部的11个省市是中国经济最发达的地区,其碳排放量约占全国碳排放量的1/2.随着气候变化的加剧和国际社会的关注,中国政府制定了区域差异化的达峰目标,因此,预测该地区碳排放对于评估中国能否实现达峰目标具有重要意义.本文基于中国东部11省市1997-2017年的面板数据,采用STIRPAT模型来预测不同情景下的碳排放趋势,并据此分析东部地区整体碳排放达峰的可能性.结果发现,有7个省市碳排放可能在2030年之前达峰,其中,北京、上海将最早出现碳排放峰值,达峰时间可能为2022年;然而,另外4个省市碳排放较难在2030年之前达峰.从东部地区整体来看,该地区碳排放达峰时间在2028-2033年,峰值为5018.03×10⁶~5497.20×10⁶ t.因此,东部地区整体碳排放可以在2030年左右达峰,为较好地实现中国整体碳排放达峰目标奠定了基础;此外,考虑到东部各省市的碳排放达峰情况存在差异,应根据各省市的实际情况制定差异化的达峰目标.     

天山北坡城市群碳储量时空变化及预测研究

为了有效评估城市群碳储量变化,以天山北坡城市群为研究对象,运用PLUS模型和InVEST模型,动态评估2000～2020年及2030年不同情景下土地利用变化及碳储量变化特征.结果表明,2000～2020年天山北坡城市群碳储量呈现持续增加趋势,且碳储量变化与土地利用变化密切相关,主要表现为2000～2010年林地面积的减少导致其碳储量减少约266×106t,2010～2020年草地面积的增加使其碳储量增加约69.14×10⁶t.2030年自然发展情景、生态保护情景和经济快速发展情景下碳储量预测值分别为8875.88×10⁶t、8895.58×10⁶t和8841.58×10⁶t;经济快速发展情景下碳储量最低,生态保护情景下碳储量最高.土地利用是影响碳储量空间变化分布的第一主导因素,贡献率接近于90%,土地利用强度与碳储量协调性分析与两者双变量空间自相关分析进一步验证了这一结论.土地利用变化在一定程度上能够对碳储量产生积极影响,对于本研究区而言,生态保护发展情景可能更符合未来城市发展模式,研究结果能够为土...     

Impacts of land use,restoration, and climate change on tropical peat carbon stocks in the twenty-first century: implications for climate mitigation

The climate mitigation potential of tropical peatlands has gained increased attention as Southeast Asian peatlands are being deforested, drained and burned at very high rates, causing globally significant carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions to the atmosphere. We used a process-based dynamic tropical peatland model to explore peat carbon (C) dynamics of several management scenarios within the context of simulated twenty-first century climate change. Simulations of all scenarios with land use, including restoration, indicated net C losses over the twenty-first century ranging from 10 to 100 % of pre-disturbance values. Fire can be the dominant C-loss pathway, particularly in the drier climate scenario we tested. Simulated 100 years of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) cultivation with an initial prescribed burn resulted in 2400–3000 Mg CO₂?ha^?1 total emissions. Simulated restoration following one 25-year oil palm rotation reduced total emissions to 440–1200 Mg CO₂?ha^?1, depending on climate. These results suggest that even under a very optimistic scenario of hydrological and forest restoration and the wettest climate regime, only about one third of the peat C lost to the atmosphere from 25 years of oil palm cultivation can be recovered in the following 75 years if the site is restored. Emissions from a simulated land degradation scenario were most sensitive to climate, with total emissions ranging from 230 to 10,600 Mg CO₂?ha^?1 over 100 years for the wettest and driest dry season scenarios, respectively. The large difference was driven by increased fire probability. Therefore, peat fire suppression is an effective management tool to maintain tropical peatland C stocks in the near term and should be a high priority for climate mitigation efforts. In total, we estimate emissions from current cleared peatlands and peatlands converted to oil palm in Southeast Asia to be 8.7 Gt CO₂ over 100 years with a moderate twenty-first century climate. These emissions could be minimized by effective fire suppression and hydrological restoration.     

基于InVEST模型和PLUS模型的环杭州湾生态系统碳储量

研究土地利用方式与生态系统服务碳储量的关系,对于区域碳排放管理具有重要意义.利用InVEST模型碳储量模块和PLUS模型,探究并预测研究区2000～2018年和2018～2030年生态系统碳储量时空变化特征及其与土地利用方式之间的关系.结果表明,研究区2000、 2010和2018年碳储量分别为7.250×10⁸、 7.227×10⁸和7.241×10⁸ t,呈先减后增趋势.土地利用类型变化是导致生态系统碳储量变化的主要因素,建设用地的快速扩张导致碳储量降低.与土地利用类型相对应,研究区碳储量空间分异显著,并以碳储量分界线为界,呈现“东北低西南高”特征.预测结果显示,至2030年碳储量为7.344×10⁸ t,较2018年增加1.42%,林地面积的增长是主要原因.     

Carbon storage versus fossil fuel substitution: a climate change mitigation option for two different land use categories based on short and long rotation forestry in India

Short rotation bioenergy crops for energy production are considered an effective means to mitigate the greenhouse effect, mainly due to their ability to substitute fossil fuels. Alternatively, carbon can be sequestered and stored in the living biomass. This paper compares the two land use categories (forest land and non-forest land) for two management practices (short rotation vs. long rotation) to study mitigation potential of afforestation and fossil fuel substitution as compared to carbon storage. Significant carbon benefit can be obtained in the long run from using lands for growing short rotation energy crops and substituting fossil fuels by the biomass thus produced, as opposed to sequestering carbon in the biomass of the trees. When growth rates are high and harvest is used in a sustainable manner (i.e., replanting after every harvest), the opportunities for net carbon reductions appear to be fossil fuel substitution, rather than storage in ecosystem biomass. Our results suggest that at year 100 a total of 216 Mg C ha⁻¹ is sequestered for afforestation/reforestation using long rotation sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn.f) species, as opposed to offset of 412 Mg C ha⁻¹ for carbon storage and fossil fuel substitution for short rotation poplar (Populus Deltoides Marsh) plantations. The bioenergy option results in a continuous stream of about 3 Mg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ of carbon benefits per year on forest land and 4 Mg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ on non-forest land. Earlier studies have shown that in India waste land availability for establishing energy plantations is in the range of 9.6 to 36.5 Mha. Thus, using the 758 Tg biomass per year generated from 9.6 Mha waste land gives a mitigation potential in the range of 227 to 303 Tg C per year for carbon storage and fossil fuel substitution from poplar plantation for substituting coal based power generation. Depending upon the land availability for plantation, the potential for energy generation is in the range of 11,370 PJ, possibly amounting to a bioenergy supply of 43% of the total projected energy consumption in 2015. Further studies are needed to estimate the mitigation potential of other species with different productivities for overall estimation of the economic feasibility and social acceptability in a tropical country like India.     

珠江流域河流碳输出通量及变化特征

研究河流碳运移对于研究全球碳循环以及探讨河流对全球气候变化的响应机制具有重要意义.2012年4月和7月选取珠江主流及支流11个代表性断面,分析悬浮颗粒物和碳组分的空间分布和季节变化,同时选取博罗、石角和高要这3个主控断面,对珠江流域的碳通量和侵蚀模数进行了估算.结果表明,珠江流域悬浮颗粒物(TSS)、颗粒有机碳(POC)以及溶解有机碳(DOC)随雨季的到来而质量浓度升高,西江上游TSS和POC的质量浓度增加显著;珠江流域河流碳的4种组分中,溶解无机碳(DIC)的所占质量分数最高,且西江、北江的DIC质量浓度明显高于东江;西江、北江和东江河流中外源POC分别占78%、72%和26%,三大支流的POC均受上游C3植物的影响;珠江流域的TSS、总碳(TC)、POC、颗粒无机碳(PIC)、DOC、DIC、以及颗粒碳(TPC)、总有机碳(TOC)的入海通量分别为134×1012、12.69×1012、2.50×1012、1.01×1012、1.13×1012、8.05×1012、3.51×1012和3.65×1012g·a-1,对应的侵蚀模数分别为:309×106、28.98×106、5.75×106、2.27×106、2.56×106、18.4×106、8.02×106和8.31×106g·(km2.a)-1.与全球主要河流碳侵蚀模数相比,珠江流域河流DOC、POC和TOC的侵蚀模数均高于全球平均值.     

基于InVEST-PLUS模型的淮北市碳储量时空演变及预测

研究土地利用时空演变对生态系统碳储量的影响,对研究区未来的国土空间规划以及减排增汇提供理论依据.基于1985、1995、2005、2015和2020年这5期土地利用数据,结合InVEST模型分析了研究区碳储量时空变化,运用PLUS模型预测研究区2035年自然发展情景、耕地保护情景、生态保护情景以及耕地和生态双保护情景土地利用变化并估算不同情景下的生态系统碳储量.结果表明:①1985~2020年研究区耕地面积持续减少,2015~2020年土地利用变化较快,综合土地利用动态度达到了34.62 %;②1985~2020年碳储量呈下降趋势,减少1.55×10⁵ t,其中在2005~2015年间,碳储量减少了1.22×10⁵ t,年均减少量达1.22×10⁴ t;③碳储量较高区域分布在研究区的东部,碳储量较低区域分布在研究区中部和西北部;耕地碳储量占比从66.89 %下降到57.73 %,但耕地仍是研究区最主要的碳库;其他地类向草地和林地转化有利于生态系统碳储量的增加;④2035年,自然发展情景、耕地保护情景、生态保护情景以及双保护情景下的碳储量分别为81.77×10⁵ 、82.45×10⁵、82.82×10⁵和82.51×10⁵ t.     

Will funding to Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and (forest) Degradation (REDD+) stop conversion of peat swamps to oil palm in orangutan habitat in Tripa in Aceh,Indonesia?

Tripa is the last remaining peat-swamp forest that harbours a potentially viable Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) sub-population in a formally but not effectively protected area. It appears to be a simple showcase where current efforts to financially support reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) converge with biodiversity and social co-benefits. In practice, however, situation is more complex. REDD+ efforts interact with global palm oil trade and regulatory approaches (the moratorium) to achieve national goals for emissions reduction under umbrella of nationally appropriate mitigation actions (NAMA). To contextualize this debate, we assessed (i) land-use history and formal basis of palm-oil companies’ rights; (ii) carbon (C) stocks, historical emission levels and potential emissions that can be avoided; (iii) economic benefits of land-use options and opportunity costs of avoiding emissions; (iv) biodiversity and environmental services; and (v) alternative options for “high C stock development” and employment generation. Natural forest cover declined (54 % in 1995, 18 % in 2009) while oil palm increased 4–39 %. Aboveground C stocks decreased from 148 Mg ha^?1 in 1990 to 61 Mg ha^?1 in 2009, leading to average annual emissions of 14.5 Mg (carbon dioxide) CO₂e ha^?1 year^?1. While 41 % of these emissions yield less than American Dollar (USD) 5 of current economic benefits per Mg CO₂e emitted and might be compensated by REDD+, nearly all new emissions derive from a breach of existing laws, regulations and voluntary palm-oil standards. Substantial investment in alternative employment is needed, rather than carbon payments per se, to support livelihoods in a low carbon emissions economy.     

我国燃煤电厂PM2.5减排潜力预测与分析

为研究燃煤电厂在燃煤发电机组结构优化调整和不同末端控制措施条件下PM_2.5的排放情况,以2012年为基准年,设计了分阶段、分地区不断优化的控制情景(基准、适中、加严和最严情景),并依据《大气细颗粒物一次源排放清单编制技术指南(试行)》建立的减排潜力模型对2017年、2020年和2030年我国燃煤电厂PM_2.5减排潜力及空间分布进行预测分析. 结果表明:通过燃煤发电机组结构优化调整,2017年、2020年和2030年我国燃煤电厂PM_2.5排放量与调整前相比可分别减少3.62×104、8.52×104和24.43×104 t,但相对于基准年而言,PM_2.5排放量并未减少;进一步结合末端控制措施优化进行控制,PM_2.5最大减排潜力(相对于基准年而言)可分别达到59.42×104±7.83×104、82.83×104±5.82×104和81.89×104±6.76×104 t,最高减排比例分别达到66.5%±8.8%、92.8%±6.5%和91.6%±7.6%. 我国各省(市/区)燃煤电厂PM_2.5减排潜力与其煤耗量和采取的控制措施有关,燃煤量越大,控制措施越严格,则减排潜力越大. 京津冀、长三角和珠三角地区燃煤电厂在实现超低排放,即最严情景下2017年PM_2.5减排潜力分别为5.93×104、12.04×104和4.70×104 t;2017年、2020年和2030年这3个区域PM_2.5总减排潜力分别为22.68×104、22.36×104和22.07×104 t. 内蒙古、江苏、山东、广东、河北和山西等地在实施超低排放后,其PM_2.5减排潜力均超过4×104 t,并且在全国范围内实施超低排放可显著降低我国燃煤电厂PM_2.5排放量.      

Root- and peat-based CO2 emissions from oil palm plantations

Measured carbon dioxide (CO₂) flux from peat soils using the closed chamber technique combines root-related (autotrophic + heterotrophic where rhizosphere organisms are involved) and peat-based (heterotrophic) respiration. The latter contributes to peat loss while the former is linked to recent CO₂ removal through photosynthesis. The objective of this study was to separate root- from peat-based respiration. The study was conducted on peatland under 6 and 15 year old oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) plantations in Jambi Province, Indonesia in 2011 to 2012. CO₂ emissions were measured in the field from 25 cm diameter and 25 cm tall closed chambers using an infrared gas analyser. Root sampling and CO₂ emissions measurements were at distances of 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, and 4.5 m from the centre of the base of the palm tree. The emission rate for the six and 15 year old oil palm plantations at ≥3.0 m from the centre of the tree were 38.2?±?9.5 and 34.1?±?15.9 Mg CO₂ ha^?1 yr^?1, respectively. At distances <2.5 m, total respiration linearly decreased with distances from the trees. Heterotrophic respirations were 86 % of the 44.7?±?11.2 and 71 % of 47.8?±?21.3 Mg CO₂ ha^?1 yr^?1 of weighted surface flux, respectively for the 6 and 15 year old plantations. We propose that CO₂ flux measurements in oil palm plantations made at a distance of ≥3 m from the tree centre be used to represent the heterotrophic respiration that is relevant for the environmental impact assessment.     

Carbon storage and sequestration potential of selected tree species in India

A dynamic growth model (CO2FIX) was used for estimating the carbon sequestration potential of sal (Shorea Robusta Gaertn. f.), Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus Tereticornis Sm.), poplar (Populus Deltoides Marsh), and teak (Tectona Grandis Linn. f.) forests in India. The results indicate that long-term total carbon storage ranges from 101 to 156 Mg C?ha^?1, with the largest carbon stock in the living biomass of long rotation sal forests (82 Mg C?ha^?1). The net annual carbon sequestration rates were achieved for fast growing short rotation poplar (8 Mg C?ha^?1?yr^?1) and Eucalyptus (6 Mg C?ha^?1?yr^?1) plantations followed by moderate growing teak forests (2 Mg C?ha^?1?yr^?1) and slow growing long rotation sal forests (1 Mg C?ha^?1?yr^?1). Due to fast growth rate and adaptability to a range of environments, short rotation plantations, in addition to carbon storage rapidly produce biomass for energy and contribute to reduced greenhouse gas emissions. We also used the model to evaluate the effect of changing rotation length and thinning regime on carbon stocks of forest ecosystem (trees?+?soil) and wood products, respectively for sal and teak forests. The carbon stock in soil and products was less sensitive than carbon stock of trees to the change in rotation length. Extending rotation length from the recommended 120 to 150 years increased the average carbon stock of forest ecosystem (trees?+?soil) by 12%. The net primary productivity was highest (3.7 Mg ha^?1?yr^?1) when a 60-year rotation length was applied but decreased with increasing rotation length (e.g., 1.7 Mg ha^?1?yr^?1) at 150 years. Goal of maximum carbon storage and production of more valuable saw logs can be achieved from longer rotation lengths. ‘No thinning’ has the largest biomass, but from an economical perspective, there will be no wood available from thinning operations to replace fossil fuel for bioenergy and to the pulp industry and such patches have high risks of forest fires, insects etc. Extended rotation lengths and reduced thinning intensity could enhance the long-term capacity of forest ecosystems to sequester carbon. While accounting for effects of climate change, a combination of bioenergy and carbon sequestration will be best to mitigation of CO₂ emission in the long term.     

临安区域大气本底站CO_2浓度特征及其碳源汇变化研究

通过分析2006年8月～2009年7月临安区域大气本底站Flask瓶采样获得的CO2浓度特征,结合碳追踪模式的模拟结果,研究了长三角地区碳源汇变化对CO2浓度的影响.结果表明,临安区域大气本底站的CO2浓度分布在368.3×10-6～414.8×10-6之间,具有较明显的季节波动变化特征,冬季高、夏季低,浓度年较差接近...