Sub-continental-scale carbon stocks of individual trees in African drylands

Compton Tucker (), Martin Brandt (), Pierre Hiernaux (), Ankit Kariryaa, Kjeld Rasmussen, Jennifer Small, Christian Igel, Florian Reiner, Katherine Melocik, Jesse Meyer, Scott Sinno, Eric Romero, Erin Glennie, Yasmin Fitts, August Morin, Jorge Pinzon, Devin McClain, Paul Morin, Claire Porter, Shane Loeffler, Laurent Kergoat, Bil-Assanou Issoufou, Patrice Savadogo, Jean-Pierre Wigneron, Benjamin Poulter, Philippe Ciais, Robert Kaufmann, Ranga Myneni, Sassan Saatchi and Rasmus Fensholt
Additional contact information
Compton Tucker: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Martin Brandt: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Pierre Hiernaux: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Ankit Kariryaa: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Kjeld Rasmussen: University of Copenhagen
Jennifer Small: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Christian Igel: University of Copenhagen
Florian Reiner: University of Copenhagen
Katherine Melocik: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Jesse Meyer: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Scott Sinno: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Eric Romero: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Erin Glennie: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Yasmin Fitts: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
August Morin: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Jorge Pinzon: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Devin McClain: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Paul Morin: University of Minnesota
Claire Porter: University of Minnesota
Shane Loeffler: University of Minnesota
Laurent Kergoat: Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées, UMR 5563 (CNRS/UPS/IRD/CNES)
Bil-Assanou Issoufou: Dan Dicko Dankoulodo University of Maradi
Patrice Savadogo: FAO Subregional Office for West Africa
Jean-Pierre Wigneron: ISPA, UMR 1391, INRAE Nouvelle-Aquitaine Bordeaux
Benjamin Poulter: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Philippe Ciais: CEA-CNRS-UVSQ, CE Orme des Merisiers
Ranga Myneni: Boston University
Sassan Saatchi: California Institute of Technology
Rasmus Fensholt: University of Copenhagen

Nature, 2023, vol. 615, issue 7950, 80-86

Abstract: Abstract The distribution of dryland trees and their density, cover, size, mass and carbon content are not well known at sub-continental to continental scales1–14. This information is important for ecological protection, carbon accounting, climate mitigation and restoration efforts of dryland ecosystems15–18. We assessed more than 9.9 billion trees derived from more than 300,000 satellite images, covering semi-arid sub-Saharan Africa north of the Equator. We attributed wood, foliage and root carbon to every tree in the 0–1,000 mm year−1 rainfall zone by coupling field data19, machine learning20–22, satellite data and high-performance computing. Average carbon stocks of individual trees ranged from 0.54 Mg C ha−1 and 63 kg C tree−1 in the arid zone to 3.7 Mg C ha−1 and 98 kg tree−1 in the sub-humid zone. Overall, we estimated the total carbon for our study area to be 0.84 (±19.8%) Pg C. Comparisons with 14 previous TRENDY numerical simulation studies23 for our area found that the density and carbon stocks of scattered trees have been underestimated by three models and overestimated by 11 models, respectively. This benchmarking can help understand the carbon cycle and address concerns about land degradation24–29. We make available a linked database of wood mass, foliage mass, root mass and carbon stock of each tree for scientists, policymakers, dryland-restoration practitioners and farmers, who can use it to estimate farmland tree carbon stocks from tablets or laptops.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05653-6

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