Estimating Carbon Sequestration Potential of Forest and Its Influencing Factors at Fine Spatial-Scales: A Case Study of Lushan City in Southern China

Geng He, Zhiduo Zhang, Qing Zhu, Wei Wang, Wanting Peng and Yongli Cai
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Geng He: School of Design & China Institute for Urban Governance, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
Zhiduo Zhang: School of Design & China Institute for Urban Governance, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
Qing Zhu: School of Design & China Institute for Urban Governance, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
Wei Wang: School of Design & China Institute for Urban Governance, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
Wanting Peng: School of Design & China Institute for Urban Governance, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
Yongli Cai: School of Design & China Institute for Urban Governance, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 15, 1-22

Abstract: Accurate prediction of forest carbon sequestration potential requires a comprehensive understanding of tree growth relationships. However, the studies for estimating carbon sequestration potential concerning tree growth relationships at fine spatial-scales have been limited. In this paper, we assessed the current carbon stock and predicted sequestration potential of Lushan City, where a region has rich vegetation types in southern China, by introducing parameters of diameter at breast height (DBH) and tree height in the method of coupling biomass expansion factor (BEF) and tree growth equation. The partial least squares regression (PLSR) was used to explore the role of combined condition factors (e.g., site, stand, climate) on carbon sequestration potential. The results showed that (1) in 2019, the total carbon stock of trees in Lushan City was 9.22 × 10 5 t, and the overall spatial distribution exhibited a decreasing tendency from northwest to south-central, and the carbon density increased with elevation; (2) By 2070, the carbon density of forest in Lushan City will reach a relatively stable state, and the carbon stock will continue to rise to 2.15 × 10 6 t, which is 2.33 times of the current level, indicating that Lushan forest will continue to serve as a carbon sink for the next fifty years; (3) Excluding the effect of tree growth, regional forest carbon sequestration potential was significantly influenced on site characteristics, which achieved the highest Variable Importance in Projection (VIP) value (2.19) for slope direction. Our study provided a better understanding of the relationships between forest growth and carbon sequestration potential at fine spatial-scales. The results regarding the condition factors and how their combination characteristics affect the potential for carbon sequestration could provide crucial insights for Chinese carbon policy and global carbon neutrality goals.

Keywords: fine-scale; biomass expansion factor; tree growth equation; carbon sequestration potential; site characteristics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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