Biomass Estimation and Carbon Stocks in Forest Ecosystems: 3rd Edition

A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Ecology and Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2025 | Viewed by 1868

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Department of Forest Management, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 28, 60-637 Poznań, Poland
Interests: forest management; biomass estimation; forest inventory; remote sensing; forest ecology
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is a continuation of our previous Special Issues, “Biomass Estimation and Carbon Stocks in Forest Ecosystems” (https://www.mdpi.com/si/103181) and “Biomass Estimation and Carbon Stocks in Forest Ecosystems: 2nd Edition” (https://www.mdpi.com/si/163200).

Forest biomass and carbon are key elements in the development of climate change mitigation strategies. Due to the growing demand for renewable energy, there is also a growing interest in the wider use of forest biomass for energy as a possible substitute for fossil fuels. The use of woody biomass as an energy source can make a significant contribution to mitigating climate change. Forest biomass estimation is also important in the evaluation of carbon sequestration and the carbon balance capacity of forest ecosystems. Forests, being the most important carbon sink, are a good tool for reducing the carbon content of the atmosphere. Estimating the amount of carbon stored by forests is essential to support climate change mitigation and promote the transition to a low-carbon-emission economy.

This Special Issue aims to present updated knowledge relating to biomass estimation and carbon storage in forest ecosystems. The topics will include:

  • Advanced methods for forest biomass modeling, mapping, and estimation;
  • Linking field and remote sensing measurements;
  • Biomass components of forest ecosystems: tree compartments, vegetation, fungi, bacteria, soil fauna, etc.;
  • Modeling growth and biomass production;
  • Effects of forest management practices on biomass allocation;
  • Forest biomass utilization;
  • Factors influencing carbon and nutrient storage.

Dr. Andrzej Węgiel
Dr. Adrian Łukowski
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • biomass allocation
  • allometric equations
  • growth models
  • biomass expansion factors
  • remote sensing
  • bioenergy
  • carbon and nutrient storage
  • ecosystem biodiversity
  • soil productivity
  • forest management

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

25 pages, 4889 KiB  
Article
Biomass Production and Nutritional Sustainability in Different Species of African Mahogany
by Gabriel Soares Lopes Gomes, Marcos Vinicius Winckler Caldeira, Robert Gomes, Victor Braga Rodrigues Duarte, Dione Richer Momolli, Júlio Cézar Tannure Faria, Tiago de Oliveira Godinho, Paulo André Trazzi, Laio Silva Sobrinho, Silvio Nolasco de Oliveira Neto and Mauro Valdir Schumacher
Forests 2024, 15(11), 1951; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15111951 - 7 Nov 2024
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Abstract
Wood from reforestation gains market value due to its sustainable and legal origin. Planted forests in Brazil play a crucial role in economic, social and environmental aspects, with Eucalyptus and Pinus dominating the timber sector. However, non-majority species, such as those of the [...] Read more.
Wood from reforestation gains market value due to its sustainable and legal origin. Planted forests in Brazil play a crucial role in economic, social and environmental aspects, with Eucalyptus and Pinus dominating the timber sector. However, non-majority species, such as those of the Khaya genus, have attracted great commercial interest due to the quality of their wood, being seen as an alternative to Brazilian mahogany. This study aimed to evaluate the biomass production of Khaya spp. stands and the nutrient uptake impacts in different harvesting scenarios. The research area is in Reserva Natural Vale (RNV) in Sooretama, Espírito Santo state, Brazil. The study was conducted 9.5 years after the planting of the Khaya spp. monoculture at a spacing of five m × five m, and the base fertilization consisted of 150 g of yoorin thermophosphate and 15 g of FTE BR 12 per seedling. The seedlings were of seminal origin, coming from different regions of Brazil and corresponding to three species: Kkaya grandifoliola C.DC (Belém-PA), Khaya ivorensis A. Chev. (Linhares-ES) and Khaya senegalensis A. Juss. (Poranguatu-GO). K. senegalensis exhibited the highest percentage of bark, while K. ivorensis was found to have the highest percentage of leaves. The biomass of the stems and branches did not vary by species. The relative biomass proportions had the following order: branches > stems > bark > leaves. The stocks of Ca and Mg were higher for K. grandifoliola, exceeding those for K. senegalensis (22.1%) for Ca and for K. ivorensis (42.3%) for Mg. The lowest nutrient uptake occurred in the scenario in which only the stem was removed, with averages of 44.17, 10.43, 21.93, 52.59 and 9.97 kg ha−1 for N, P, K, Ca and Mg, respectively. Compared to total biomass harvesting, this represents a reduction in export levels by 91.34% for N, 79.31% for P, 94.66% for K, 94.29% for Ca and 93.28% for Mg. The nutrient uptake assessment demonstrated that more conservative harvest scenarios resulted in lower nutrient losses, indicating the importance of forest management practices that prioritize soil and nutrient conservation. In summary, the findings of this study provide a solid basis for the sustainable management of Khaya spp., highlighting implications for productivity and nutrient dynamics on a small or medium scale. Full article
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18 pages, 4032 KiB  
Article
Stem Longitudinal Gradient for Basic Density, Carbon, Nitrogen, and CN Ratio in Khaya spp.: Improved Correlation Using Diameter Instead of Commercial Height
by Dione Richer Momolli, Marcos Vinicius Winckler Caldeira, Gabriel Soares Lopes Gomes, Robert Gomes, Victor Braga Rodrigues Duarte, Tiago de Oliveira Godinho, João Gabriel Missia da Silva, Vaniele Bento dos Santos, Graziela Baptista Vidaurre, Júlio Cézar Tannure Faria, Mauro Valdir Schumacher and Marcos Gervasio Pereira
Forests 2024, 15(11), 1923; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15111923 - 31 Oct 2024
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Abstract
The basic wood density influences the carbon stock, playing a crucial role in climate-changing global mitigation through carbon sequestration. Understanding wood carbon release depends on the Nitrogen assessment and CN ratio. Therefore, our research aimed to: (i) Compare basic density, organic carbon, nitrogen, [...] Read more.
The basic wood density influences the carbon stock, playing a crucial role in climate-changing global mitigation through carbon sequestration. Understanding wood carbon release depends on the Nitrogen assessment and CN ratio. Therefore, our research aimed to: (i) Compare basic density, organic carbon, nitrogen, and C/N ratio among the Khaya grandifoliola, K. ivorensis, and K. senegalensis; (2) Analyze the gradient along positions and diameter of the commercial stem; (3) Recommend the most representative sampling position for each species based on the diameter. The experimental area is located in Southeastern Brazil. Twelve average-diameter trees per species were cut down, and wood disc samples were collected at 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% commercial height. Our results show statistical differences in wood basic density among the species, and K. senegalensis has the highest basic density, 592 kg m3. There was no statistical difference in organic carbon between species and along the stem. Stem diameter instead of commercial height improved the variable studied, confirming the research hypothesis. Sampling at 17% of the commercial height, ranging to 18–22 cm stem diameters, is recommended for greater representativeness. Full article
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16 pages, 6620 KiB  
Article
Both Biotic and Abiotic Factors Shape the Spatial Distribution of Aboveground Biomass in a Tropical Karst Seasonal Rainforest in South China
by Fang Lu, Bin Wang, Jianxing Li, Dongxing Li, Shengyuan Liu, Yili Guo, Fuzhao Huang, Wusheng Xiang and Xiankun Li
Forests 2024, 15(11), 1904; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15111904 - 29 Oct 2024
Viewed by 476
Abstract
Forest biomass accumulation is fundamental to ecosystem stability, material cycling, and energy flow, and pit lays a crucial role in the carbon cycle. Understanding the factors influencing aboveground biomass (AGB) is essential for exploring ecosystem functioning mechanisms, restoring degraded forests, and estimating carbon [...] Read more.
Forest biomass accumulation is fundamental to ecosystem stability, material cycling, and energy flow, and pit lays a crucial role in the carbon cycle. Understanding the factors influencing aboveground biomass (AGB) is essential for exploring ecosystem functioning mechanisms, restoring degraded forests, and estimating carbon balance in forest communities. Tropical karst seasonal rainforests are species-rich and heterogeneous, yet the impact mechanisms of biotic and abiotic factors on AGB remain incompletely understood. Based on the survey data of a 15 ha monitoring plot in a karst seasonal rainforest in Southern China, this study explores the distribution characteristics of AGB and its intrinsic correlation with different influencing factors. The results show that the average AGB of the plot is 125.7 Mg/ha, with notable variations among habitats, peaking in hillside habitats. Trees with medium and large diameters at breast height (DBH ≥ 10 cm) account for 83.94% of the aboveground biomass (AGB) and are its primary contributors; dominant tree species exhibit higher AGB values. Both biotic and abiotic elements substantially influence AGB, with biotic factors exhibiting the largest influence. Among abiotic factors, topographic factors have a strong direct or indirect influence on AGB, while soil physicochemical properties have the smallest indirect impact. This research provides a comprehensive understanding of AGB distribution and its influencing factors in tropical karst forests (KFs), contributing to the management of carbon sinks in these ecosystems. Full article
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