Transaction costs for carbon sequestration projects in the tropical forest sector

There is general consensus that carbon (C) sequestration projects in forests are a relatively low cost option for mitigating climate change, but most studies on the subject have assumed that transaction costs are negligible. The objectives of the study were to examine transaction costs for forest C sequestration projects and to determine the significance of the costs based on economic analyses. Here we examine four case studies of active C sequestration projects being implemented in tropical countries and developed for the C market. The results from the case studies were then used with a dynamic forest and land use economic model to investigate how transaction costs affect the efficiency and cost of forest C projects globally. In the case studies transaction costs ranged from 0.38 to 27 million US dollars ($0.09 to $7.71/t CO₂) or 0.3 to 270 % of anticipated income depending principally on the price of C and project size. The three largest cost categories were insurance (under the voluntary market; 41–89 % of total costs), monitoring (3–42 %) and regulatory approval (8–50 %). The global analysis indicated that most existing estimates of marginal costs of C sequestration are underestimated by up to 30 % because transaction costs were not included.     

西双版纳热带森林挥发性有机物的观测研究

2002年7月中旬利用异戊二烯通量测定系统对云南西双版纳热带森林异戊二烯的排放通量进行了连续测量,同时对光合有效辐射(PAR)、气温、湿度、风等参数进行了观测.结果表明,热带地区人工橡胶林区域湿季异戊二烯的排放有明显的日变化规律,中午前后为一天中的最大值,异戊二烯排放通量的日平均值在0.85～0.24mgC/(m²h)之间.对小时值和日平均值而言,异戊二烯的排放与PAR和气温的变化规律比较一致,但它对PAR比对气温更加敏感.不同的天气状况对异戊二烯的排放有非常明显的影响.橡胶林是一个单萜烯排放者,其单萜烯的排放速率明显依赖于PAR.橡胶林和热带雨林冠层上空异戊二烯和单萜烯的浓度也有明显的日变化规律,而且橡胶林区域的异戊二烯和单萜烯的浓度均明显高于热带雨林.     

贵阳表层土壤中铬的环境地球化学基线研究

以土壤环境地球化学研究为主线,以贵州省贵阳市8046km2为研究区域,将土壤重金属污染元素铬的空间分布规律与环境地球化学机理研究相结合,建立了研究区域内表层土壤中铬元素的地球化学基线,并选用合适的判别指标判识自然作用过程与人类活动过程对土壤环境的影响.研究结果表明,贵阳市表层土壤中铬的基线值为44.0 mg·kg-1.地质累积指数分析结果显示,贵阳市46%的表层土壤未受铬的污染,47%的表层土壤在无污染到中度污染之间,6.8%的表层土壤为中度污染,只有0.2%的表层土壤介于中度污染到强污染之间.污染程度指数分析结果则显示,贵阳市69.2%的表层土壤未受到铬的污染,铬的污染程度最大为2.01,98.4%的表层土壤污染程度小于1,总污染程度小于0,即总体未受到污染.     

Long-term impacts of land-use change on dynamics of tropical soil carbon and nitrogen pools

Land-use changes, especially the conversion of native forest vegetation to cropland and plantations in tropical region, can alter soil C and N pools and N availability for plant uptake. Deforestation, followed by shifting cultivation and establishment of rubber tree plantation, is a common land-use change in Xishuangbanna, southwest China. However the influence of this kind of land-use change on soil C and N dynamics in this region remains poorly understood, This study was conducted to assess the effects of land-use change on soil C and N pools. Soil samples were collected on five adjacent plots, which belong to three land-use types including secondary forest-an acuminate banana( Musa itinerans) secondary forest and a male bamboo( Dendrocalamus membranaceae) secondary forest, shifting cultivation, and rubber tree ( Hevea brasiliensis (H. B. K. ) Muell. Arg. ) plantation(one plot is 3-year-old, and another is 7-year-old). We measured soil bulk density (BD), pH value, moisture content and concentrations of soil organic carbon(SOC), total soil nitrogen(TSN), and inorganic N(NO3^- -N and NH4^ -N) at 0--3, 3--20, 20--40 and 40--60cm depths, and calculated C and N pools in 0--20, 20--40, 40--60, and 0--60 cm soil layers. Compared with the adjacent secondary forests, shifting cultivation and establishment of rubber tree plantations resulted in significant decline in concentrations and stocks of SOC and TSN in 0--20 and 0--60cm soil layers, and increase in pH and bulk density at 0--3, 3--20, and 20--40cm depths. Soil moisture content decreased only in 0--20cm surface soils in shifting cultivation and plantations. The dynamics of mineral N was much more complex, which had different trends among depths and ecosystems. Compared with the secondary forests, SOC stocks in 0--20cm surface soils in shifting cultivation and rubber tree plantations(3-year-old plantation and 7-year-old plantation) decreased by 34.0%, 33%, and 23% ; and TSN stocks decreased by 32.2%, 20.4%, and 20.4%, respectively,whereas the decreases of SOC and TSN stocks in 0--60cm soil layers were much less. The results indicated that C and N losses were mainly occurred in 0--20cm surface soil, followed by 20--40cm layer.     

外源新碳对红壤团聚体及有机碳分布和稳定性的影响

以中国科学院长期定位试验站的红壤为研究对象,通过室内模拟实验,利用δ~(13)C示踪方法,将稳定同位素碳(δ13C)标记的水稻秸秆添加入红壤,研究水稻秸秆添加对红壤水稳性团聚体分布及稳定性的影响,探索水稻秸秆腐解过程中有机碳在不同粒级团聚体中的动态变化以及分布规律.研究结果表明:未添加水稻秸秆的红壤(对照组),微团聚体(250μm)占主体,2000μm粒级水稳性团聚体含量最少.与对照相比,添加水稻秸秆后(试验组)促进了2000μm粒级水稳性团聚体的团聚.不同培养时期,2000μm水稳性团聚体增加了108.3%~270.3%,促使大团聚体占主体,显著提高了红壤水稳性团聚体的平均重量直径(MWD)、几何平均直径(GMD)、R0.25值,降低了分形维数(D)值,土壤结构明显得到改善.各粒级团聚体有机碳含量也显著得到提高,2000μm团聚体有机碳含量比对照组增加了14.7%~41.5%.土壤有机碳在53μm粒级团聚体中分布随着粒级的增大而增大,即2000μm2000~250μm250~53μm.不同粒级团聚体δ13C值动态变化显著,有机碳的周转速率增大.外源新碳前期主要分配在2000μm、250~53μm粒级团聚体中,并促进了原有机碳的分解,后期主要分配在微团聚体中.红壤大团聚体有机碳含量与团聚体稳定性呈极显著的相关关系(p0.01).     

Gas- and aqueous-phase formic and acetic acids at a tropical cloud forest site

Atmospheric gas-phase and aqueous-phase (dew and fog) formic and acetic acids were measured over a cloud forest in Venezuela. The gaseous acids showed diurnal cycles, with higher mixing ratios during daytime. Higher concentrations were observed during the dry season (HCOOH 1.7 +/−0.5 ppb; CH₃COOH 1.4+/−0.6 ppb) in comparison with the rainy season (HCOOH 0.79+/−0.24 ppb; CH₃COOH 0.54+/−0.20 ppb). Liquid-phase concentrations in dew and fog are of the same order and range from 8.1 to 69.5 μM for HCOOH and 4.3 to 15.3 μM for CH₃COOH. The field-observed Henry's Law coefficients, calculated from the simultaneous measurements of gas- and liquid-phase acids, do not show a significant trend with the pH of the solution, in contrast to theoretical considerations. Dry deposition velocities to the nighttime dew are 1.1+/−0.6 and 0.68+/−0.42 cm s⁻¹ for formic and acetic acids, respectively. A loss of 0.054 ppb HCOOH and 0.022 ppb CH₃COOH from the atmospheric boundary layer to the dew is produced nightly.     

Impacts of international trade on carbon flows of forest industry in Finland

Finland is a forested country with a large export oriented forest industry. In addition to domestic forest extraction, roundwood is imported, thus displacing the environmental impacts of harvests. In this paper, we analyse the international carbon flows of forest industries in Finland from a consumption-based perspective. Quantitative analyses are available on trade embedded emissions of CO₂ from fossil fuel combustion, and here we address in a similar way the impact of trade on the carbon budget of the forest products sector in Finland. Carbon flows through the forest industry system increased substantially between 1991 and 2005. We show that the annual carbon balance related to forests and forest industry system in Finland functioned as a sink in 1991, whereas in 2005 the system was a sink on a national level, but not on a global level. Through calculating the carbon content in traded forest industry products and emissions embodied in forest industry activities, we further show that the direct impacts of the forest industry in Finland are only a minor fraction of the total CO₂ emissions related to Finnish production. Nearly all of the emissions were caused due to production of exports. Yet, direct carbon dioxide emissions of the industrial production are reported to Finland in the production based inventories.     

中国森林碳汇潜力与增汇成本评估——基于Meta分析方法

准确评估中国森林碳汇潜力与增汇成本的经济可行性,是科学制定碳中和林业行动方案的基础。然而针对中国森林碳汇潜力与增汇成本的不同结果差异明显,可靠性需要进一步验证。为此,基于相关文献,采用Meta分析方法,对中国森林碳汇潜力与增汇成本及其导致差异的原因展开评估。研究表明：(1)中国森林碳汇量呈现不断增长的态势,但不同研究对森林碳汇潜力测度结果存在较大差异。(2)中国森林增汇的平均成本为220.45元/t CO_2e(区间值为3.9～1457.02元/t CO_2e),与工业减排成本相比,中国森林增汇更具有经济可行性,但波动幅度较大。(3)评估方法采用、碳库数量选择等因素是导致已有森林碳汇潜力文献估计结果差异的关键因素;森林增汇成本差异则主要受碳汇成本测度研究方法、成本收益数据来源等因素影响。(4)中国森林增汇对碳中和的贡献将会持续增加。基于研究结果,提出进一步深化森林碳汇潜力与成本测算相关研究等方面的政策建议。     

The method on recovery of forest vegetation in degraded ecosystem in tropical and subtropical waste lowland in Guangdong

The aim of this paper is to discuss the reasonable method to set up the man-made ecosystem where the high productivity, high economic effects and ecological efficiencies, continual resources and suitable environment could be obtained.     

Fragmented forest in tropical landscape--the case of the state of Selangor,Malaysia

This paper presents the pattern and changes of fragmented forest in relation with changes of total forest cover in the state of Selangor in three decades.In this study,inventoried forest cover maps of Selangor in 1971/1972,1981/1982 and 1991/1992 produced by the Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia were digitized to examine the changes in area and number of fragmented forest.Results showed that in 1971/1972,16 fragmented forests were identified in Selangor.All fragmented forests were identified as diptercoarp forest.A decade later the number of fragmented forests increased by approximately 44%(23).Of the 23 fragmented forests,two were peat swamp forests whereas the remaining were dipterocarp forests.In 1991/1992 the number of fragmented forests(12)was reduced by 47.8%.Two of the fragmented forests were Fragmentation of both dipterocrp and peat swamp forests occurred profoundly during the period between 1971/1972and 1981/1982,which consequently increased the number of fragmented forests compared with before the period of 1971/1972 where fragmentation happened only at dipterocarp forests.However,many fragmented forests vanished between the 1981/1982 and 1991/1992 periods.     

Assessing audit impact and thoroughness of VCS forest carbon offset projects

Voluntary markets transacted over $66 million USD of forest carbon offsets in 2016, according to Forest Trends, and over 99% of those offset projects were audited to a standard, primarily the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS). We provide a table characterizing all 70 validated and verified forest carbon projects employing the VCS version 3.0 currently-in-use (December 2011–July 2017). We also examine two separate aspects of the audit process––impact and thoroughness––to assess the effectiveness of the costly audit process, which can consume up to one-third of offset revenue. Audit impact we measure in terms of reduction in the number of offsets from ex ante estimated to ex post approved. Audit thoroughness we measure both directly in terms of the number of auditor hours worked per project and also indirectly in terms of the total number of Corrective Action Requests (CARs)/Non-Conformity Reports (NCRs) auditors prescribe. In terms of impact, we find that Afforestation/Reforestation/Restoration (A/R/R) and Improved Forest Management (IFM) projects, though only constituting 5% of total verified offsets, demonstrate significant (p < = 0.05) reductions from ex ante estimated to ex post approved offsets, likely because auditors can easily scrutinize carbon stocks/emission factors for the commercial tree species involved in these project types. In terms of thoroughness, we find that higher ex ante estimates correlate with more total auditor hours worked and total CARs/NCRs prescribed for three of four project activity types, likely because auditors perceive larger ex ante projects as higher risk. We conclude with recommendations for the VCS to empower auditors to scrutinize carbon stocks/emissions factors from avoided deforestation projects, and also to continue to flag high ex ante projects as higher risk.     

An assessment of uncertainty in forest carbon budget projections

Estimates of uncertainty are presented for projections of forest carbon inventory and average annual net carbon flux on private timberland in the US using the model FORCARB. Uncertainty in carbon inventory was approximately ±9% (2000 million metric tons) of the estimated median in the year 2000, rising to 11% (2800 million metric tons) in projection year 2040, with this range covering 95% of the distribution. Relative uncertainties about net flux were higher and more variable than relative uncertainty estimates of carbon inventory. Results indicated that relatively high correlations among projected carbon budgets for the regional forest types led to greater total uncertainty than under assumptions of independence among types, indicating that an accurate portrayal of correlations is important. Uncertainty in soil carbon, closely followed by uncertainty in tree carbon, were most influential in estimating uncertainty in carbon inventory, but uncertainties in projections of volume growth and volume removals were most important in estimating uncertainty in carbon flux. This implies the most effective ways of reducing uncertainty in carbon flux are different from those required to reduce uncertainties in carbon inventory. Analyses as presented here are necessary prerequisites to identify and reduce uncertainty in a systematic and iterative way.     

Fruit traits and temporal abundance shape plant-frugivore interaction networks in a seasonal tropical forest

Interactions between fleshy fruited plants and frugivores are crucial for the structuring and functioning of biotic communities, particularly in tropical forests where both groups are diverse and play different roles in network organization. However, it remains poorly understood how different groups of frugivore species and fruit traits contribute to network structure. We recorded interactions among 28 plant species and three groups of frugivores (birds, bats, and non-flying mammals) in a seasonal forest in Mexico to determine which species contribute more to network structure and evaluate the importance of each species. We also determined whether fruit abundance, water content, morphology traits, and fruiting phenology are related to network parameters: the number of interactions, species contribution to nestedness, and species strength. We found that plants did not depend on a single group of frugivores, but rather on one species of each group: the bird Pitangus sulphuratus, the bat Sturnira parvidens, and the non-flying mammal Procyon lotor. The abundance, size, and water content of the fruits were significantly related to the contribution to nestedness, number of interactions, and species strength index of plant species. Tree species and birds contributed mainly to the nested structure of the network. We show that the structure of plant-frugivore networks in this seasonal forest is non-random and that fruit traits (i.e., abundance, phenology, size, and water content) are important factors shaping plant-frugivore networks. Identification of the key species and their traits that maintain the complex structure of species interactions is therefore fundamental for the integral conservation of tropical forests.     

热带人工橡胶林异戊二烯排放通量的模式研究

2 0 0 2年 7月中旬 (湿季 ) ,我们利用快速异戊二烯系统对云南热带森林异戊二烯的排放通量进行了连续测量 ,同时对其影响因子光合有效辐射、气温、湿度、风等参数进行了观测 .研究表明 ,该地区人工橡胶林异戊二烯的排放有明显的日变化 ,云和降水可以明显减小异戊二烯的排放 .利用光合有效辐射守恒的观点处理与植物异戊二烯排放有关的过程 ,建立了一个计算异戊二烯排放的经验模式 ,计算值与观测值比较接近 .因此 ,以一定的物理原理和对实际大气状况观测资料的分析为基础 ,建立异戊二烯排放模式的方法是可行的 .     

广州森林碳储量时空演变及异质性分析

利用1990年、1997年和2004年3个时相的Landsat TM数据,基于CART分析算法,提取广州森林分类信息.利用样方调查与同期TM数据的光谱响应数据,分别建立了阔叶林、针叶林、园地的逐步回归模型,计算了广州森林碳储量,绘制了碳密度分布图.结果表明,广州森林覆盖率1997年比1990年显著增加,而2004年比1997年略有减少.3个时期广州森林碳储量、碳密度分别为5.93×106t、7.07×106t、7.64×106t与22.1t·hm-2、22.7t·hm-2、24.7t·hm-2,均呈上升趋势.3个时期均有40%以上的森林碳密度低于25 t·hm-2,80%以上森林碳密度低于50t·hm-2;但总体趋势是低碳密度森林比重减少,高碳密度森林比重增加,森林碳密度结构朝良性发展.在广州碳储量估算的基础上,计算Moran I系数与Geary C系数,表明研究区森林碳密度3个时期都存在正的自相关性,且分布格局由随机离散分布趋向于聚集分布.进一步利用半变异函数,对碳密度分布格局异质性进行分析,表明3个时期森林碳密度的空间分布格局异质性差异不大,1997年略强于其它时期;空间结构上均属于高度相关;空间自相关因素是森林碳密度空间异质性的主要因素;从1990～2004年,相关尺度增加,引起空间异质性的随机因素所占比重减少,自相关因素所占比重增加.     

A spatial assessment of the forest carbon budget for Ukraine

Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change - The spatial representation of forest cover and forest parameters is a prerequisite for undertaking a systems approach to the full and...     

Modeling harvest and biomass removal effects on the forest carbon balance of the Midwest,USA

The objective of this study was to use an ecosystem process model, Biome-BGC, to explore the effects of different harvest scenarios on major components of the carbon budget of 205,000 km² of temperate forest in the Upper Midwest region of the U.S. We simulated seven harvest scenarios varying the (i) amount of harvest residue retained, (ii) total harvest area, and (iii) harvest type (clear-cut and selective) to assess the potential impacts on net biome production (NBP), net primary production (NPP), and total vegetation carbon. NBP was positive (C sink) in year 1 (2004) and generally decreased over the 50-year simulation period. More intensive management scenarios, those with a high percentage of clear-cut or a doubling of harvest area, decreased average NBP by a maximum of 58% and vegetation C by a maximum of 29% compared to the current harvest regime (base scenario), while less intensive harvest scenarios (low clear-cut or low area harvested) increased NBP. Yearly mean NPP changed less than 3% under the different scenarios. Vegetation carbon increased in all scenarios by at least 12%, except the two most intensive harvest scenarios, where vegetation carbon decreased by more than 8%. Varying the amount of harvest residue retention had a more profound effect on NBP than on vegetation C. Removing additional residue resulted in greater NBP over the 50-year period compared to the base simulation. Results from the seven model simulations suggest that managing for carbon storage and carbon sequestration are not mutually exclusive in Midwest forests.     

A distributional analysis of the socio-ecological and economic determinants of forest carbon stocks

Forest carbon (C) sequestration is being actively considered by several states as a way to cost-effectively comply with the forthcoming United States (US) Environmental Protection Agency’s rule that will reduce power plant C emissions by 32% of 2005 levels by 2030. However, little is known about the socio-ecological and distributional effects of such a policy. Given that C is heterogeneous across the landscape, understanding how social, economic, and ecological changes affect forest C stocks and sequestration is key for developing forest management policies that offset C emissions. Using Florida US as a case study, we use US National Forest Inventory Analysis and Census Bureau data in both linear regression and quantile regression analyses to examine the socio-ecological and economic determinants of forest C stocks and its relationship with differing communities. Quantile regression findings demonstrate nonlinearity in the effects of key determinants, which highlight the limitations of regularly used mean-based regression analyses. We also found that forest basal area, site quality, stand size, and stand age are significant ecological predictors of carbon stocks, with a positive and increasing effect on upper quantiles where C stocks are greater. The effect of education was generally positive and mostly significant at upper quantiles, while the effects of income and locations with predominantly minority residents (as compared to whites) were negative. Upper quantiles were also affected by population age. Our findings underscore the importance of considering the broader socio-ecological and economic implications of compliance strategies that target the management of forests for carbon sequestration and other ecosystem services.     

A little REDD model to quickly compare possible baseline and policy scenarios for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation

A simple model allows rapid comparison of typical baseline and policy scenarios which might be considered under international programs to avoid CO₂ emissions caused by forest clearing, such as REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation). These tests of REDD policy scenarios can also include CO₂ stored in forest products. The value of avoided emissions can also be determined if expected carbon prices, constant or varying, are included. The paper discusses simple illustrative example comparisons as well as possible feedback effects within larger scale setting of CO₂ offset availability, CO₂ price and emissions reductions.     

人为干扰对小兴安岭森林湿地土壤碳组分和酶活性的影响

以小兴安岭落叶林沼泽湿地为研究对象,对比研究皆伐地、火烧地和落叶松湿地土壤碳组分和酶活性.结果表明:(1)3种湿地类型土壤SOC含量表现为对照地显著高于皆伐地和火烧地(p0.05),在0~10 cm土层中皆伐地与对照地相比降低了58.38%,火烧地与对照地相比降低了61.96%.皆伐地与火烧地在不同土层的土壤中SOC含量差异不显著(p0.05);DOC含量对照地显著高于皆伐地和火烧地(p0.05).在0~10cm土层中火烧地DOC含量是皆伐地的1.99倍,两者差异不显著(p0.05);不同干扰方式对土壤MBC含量影响的差异主要表现在0~10 cm的土层土壤,对照地分别比皆伐地和火烧地高23.13%和95.79%(p0.05).在不同的土层中皆伐地MBC含量均大于火烧地,与SOC含量的变化趋势一致.(2)与对照地相比,皆伐地与火烧地0~10 cm土层的土壤蔗糖酶活性分别降低了45.59%和36.76%,脲酶活性显著降低了18.22%和55.69%(p0.05),蛋白酶活性降低了19.65%和17.34%,淀粉酶活性降低了6.29%和10.69%.土壤碳组分和酶活性在垂直方向上均表现为随着土层深度增加而减小.皆伐和火烧造成森林湿地土壤碳组分和酶活性降低.