Forest Carbon Sequestration and Climate Change Mitigation

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Climate climate	3.0	5.5	2013	19.7 Days	CHF 1800
Environments environments	3.5	5.7	2014	22.8 Days	CHF 1800
Forests forests	2.4	4.4	2010	16.2 Days	CHF 2600
Remote Sensing remotesensing	4.2	8.3	2009	23.9 Days	CHF 2700

18 pages, 8817 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Future Scenarios of Forest Carbon Sink in a Typical Subtropical County

by Weipeng Gong, Qin Zhang, Zemeng Fan, Wenjiao Shi, Na Zhao, Zhengping Du, Yang Yang, Kainan Chen, Jingxuan Hu, Tongrui An and Tianxiang Yue

Forests 2024, 15(11), 1887; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15111887 - 26 Oct 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 898

Abstract

In the context of achieving global carbon neutrality, forests play a pivotal role in sequestering atmospheric CO₂, particularly in China, where forest management is central to national climate strategies. This study evaluates the forest carbon sink capacity in Zixi County, a [...] Read more.

In the context of achieving global carbon neutrality, forests play a pivotal role in sequestering atmospheric CO₂, particularly in China, where forest management is central to national climate strategies. This study evaluates the forest carbon sink capacity in Zixi County, a subtropical region, under varying climate scenarios (SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5). Using the Forest-DNDC (Denitrification–Decomposition) model, combined with high-precision climate data and a random forest model, we simulate forest carbon density and forest carbon sink under different management strategies. The results indicate that under the baseline scenario, forest carbon density in Zixi County increases by 31% over 42 years under the SSP2-4.5 climate scenario and by 28.6% under SSP5-8.5. In the enhancing economic scenario, carbon density increases by 8.5% under SSP2-4.5 and by 7.2% under SSP5-8.5. For the natural development scenario, a significant increase of 130% is observed under SSP2-4.5, while SSP5-8.5 shows an increase of 120%. Spatially, forest carbon sinks in Zixi County total 843,152 T C in 2020, 542,852 T C in 2030, and 877,802 T C in 2060 under the baseline SSP2-4.5 scenario; under SSP5-8.5, these values are 841,321 T C in 2020, 531,301 T C in 2030, and 1,016,402 T C in 2060. In the enhancing economic scenario, the total carbon sink is 34,650 T C in both 2020 and 2030, increasing to 427,351 T C in 2060 under SSP2-4.5, while under SSP5-8.5, it is 46,200 T C in 2020, 34,650 T C in 2030, and 415,801 T C in 2060. The natural development scenario shows the total carbon sink under SSP2-4.5 as 11,157,332 T C in 2020, 3,441,910 T C in 2030, and 1,409,104 T C in 2060, and under SSP5-8.5, it is 10,903,231 T C in 2020, 3,337,960 T C in 2030, and 1,131,903 T C in 2060. Spatial analysis reveals that elevation and forest type significantly affect carbon density, with high-altitude areas and forests dominated by Chinese fir and broadleaf species showing higher carbon accumulation. The findings highlight the importance of targeted forest management, prioritizing species with higher carbon sequestration potential and considering spatial heterogeneity. These strategies, applied locally, can contribute to broader national and global carbon neutrality efforts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Forest Carbon Sequestration and Climate Change Mitigation)

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19 pages, 9049 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatiotemporal Evolution and Driving Factors of Land Use Carbon Emissions in Jiangxi Province, China

by Fangyun Dai, Mingjin Zhan, Xingjuan Chen, Xiaoling Yang and Ping Ouyang

Forests 2024, 15(10), 1825; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15101825 - 19 Oct 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 923

Abstract

Analyzing the spatiotemporal changes and influencing factors of carbon emissions generated by land use is of great importance for improving land use structure and promoting regional low-carbon economic development. This study, based on remote sensing and statistical yearbook data from 1995 to 2020, [...] Read more.

Analyzing the spatiotemporal changes and influencing factors of carbon emissions generated by land use is of great importance for improving land use structure and promoting regional low-carbon economic development. This study, based on remote sensing and statistical yearbook data from 1995 to 2020, calculated the carbon emissions from land use in Jiangxi Province, China. Multiple spatial analysis methods and the logarithmic mean Divisia index were used to elucidate the spatiotemporal evolution and driving factors of carbon emissions, and the findings revealed the following: (1) The spatiotemporal changes in land use in Jiangxi Province during 1995–2020 were substantial as forest land accounted for 65% of the entire land area, while construction land increased by 98.1%. Cultivated land decreased the most, followed by forest land. (2) There was a fourfold rise in carbon emissions in Jiangxi Province, driven primarily by construction land, and northern areas produced higher carbon emissions compared with central and southern regions. Forest land was the main carbon sink. (3) Economic development (257.36%) and the impact of the proportion of construction land (211.31%) were the primary factors contributing to the increase in carbon emissions from land use, while other factors had inhibitory effects. This study transformed the macroscale low-carbon development strategy of cities into targeted local policies, and the research theories and methods adopted could provide scientific reference for other regions in urgent need of carbon reduction worldwide. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Forest Carbon Sequestration and Climate Change Mitigation)

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14 pages, 2787 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Differences in Soil CO₂ Efflux and Microbial Community Composition Among Slope Aspects in a Mountain Oak Forest

by Qing Shang and Yanchun Liu

Forests 2024, 15(10), 1810; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15101810 - 16 Oct 2024

Viewed by 969

Abstract

As one of the main terrain factors, the slope aspect generally shows remarkable effects on microclimate and vegetation distribution. The purpose of this study was to determine the potential effects of the slope aspect on soil respiration and the soil microbial community in [...] Read more.

As one of the main terrain factors, the slope aspect generally shows remarkable effects on microclimate and vegetation distribution. The purpose of this study was to determine the potential effects of the slope aspect on soil respiration and the soil microbial community in a temperate mountain forest. A field investigation was carried out in a mountain oak forest located at different slope aspects (northeast, northwest, southeast, and southwest), and soil respiration was continuously measured for 12 months. The soil’s bacterial and fungal taxa were analyzed during the growing season. Our results showed that average soil respiration on the southwest and southeast slope aspects was 72.9% higher than the average on the northeast and northwest slope aspects. The coefficient of variation of soil respiration had the highest value on the northwest aspect (20.9%) and the lowest value on the southeast aspect (6.9%). The southeast slope had significantly higher soil respiration and temperature sensitivity compared to the other three slope aspects. The slope aspect substantially affected the soil’s bacterial and fungal r/K strategy, showing the lowest values on the northwest aspect and the highest values on the southeast aspect. Differences in bacterial r/K, the ratio of microbial biomass carbon (MBC) to soil organic carbon (SOC), and SOC among slope aspects contributed to a 43%, 38%, and 32% variation in soil respiration, respectively. The variation of soil temperature across slope aspects showed an indirect effect on soil respiration through changing bacterial r/K and MBC/SOC. Our findings highlight that terrain plays a critical role in regulating the spatial heterogeneity of soil respiration in mountain forests, which could be explained by the differences in SOC and microbial community composition across slope aspects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Forest Carbon Sequestration and Climate Change Mitigation)

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18 pages, 16520 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Extreme Drought on Vegetation Greenness in Poyang Lake Wetland

by Xiahua Lai, Han Zeng, Xiaomin Zhao, Yiwen Shao and Xi Guo

Forests 2024, 15(10), 1756; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15101756 - 6 Oct 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1124

Abstract

The Poyang Lake Wetland, an internationally significant ecosystem, frequently experiences drought during the flood season. However, the total impact of extreme drought on wetland vegetation remains poorly understood. This study determined the standardised precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) and analysed drought trends within the [...] Read more.

The Poyang Lake Wetland, an internationally significant ecosystem, frequently experiences drought during the flood season. However, the total impact of extreme drought on wetland vegetation remains poorly understood. This study determined the standardised precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) and analysed drought trends within the Poyang Lake Basin. Additionally, spatiotemporal variations in wetland vegetation under drought conditions were examined by analysing the mean normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) values and categorising NDVI classifications. The key factors affecting wetland vegetation and its respective thresholds were determined. The Poyang Lake Basin has experienced increasing aridity over the past 3 years. In response to this trend, the wetland vegetation area in Poyang Lake expanded, whereas vegetation greenness declined. Notably, in the year following an extreme drought, Poyang Lake’s vegetation greenness was lower than that during the same period in previous years. Regardless, the correlation analysis showed no significant relationship between the SPEI values and the wetland vegetation greenness; however, water level changes significantly impacted the wetland vegetation, with a correlation coefficient of −0.89 (p < 0.001). A critical water level of 14 m was identified as the threshold at which sudden changes in the mean NDVI were observed. This research offers valuable insights into hydrological management strategies to protect Poyang Lake Wetland’s vegetation under drought conditions. Future studies should enhance the differentiation of drought tolerance among different wetland plant species, thereby achieving differentiated hydrological management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Forest Carbon Sequestration and Climate Change Mitigation)

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26 pages, 29874 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Estimation of Spatial–Temporal Dynamic Evolution of Potential Afforestation Land and Its Carbon Sequestration Capacity in China

by Zhipeng Zhang, Zong Wang, Xiaoyuan Zhang and Shijie Yang

Remote Sens. 2024, 16(16), 3098; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16163098 - 22 Aug 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1196

Abstract

Afforestation is an important way to effectively reduce carbon emissions from human activities and increase carbon sinks in forest ecosystems. It also plays an important role in climate change mitigation. Currently, few studies have examined the spatiotemporal dynamics of future afforestation areas, which [...] Read more.

Afforestation is an important way to effectively reduce carbon emissions from human activities and increase carbon sinks in forest ecosystems. It also plays an important role in climate change mitigation. Currently, few studies have examined the spatiotemporal dynamics of future afforestation areas, which are crucial for assessing future carbon sequestration in forest ecosystems. In order to obtain the dynamic distribution of potential afforestation land over time under future climate change scenarios in China, we utilized the random forest method in this study to calculate weights for the selected influencing factors on potential afforestation land, such as natural vegetation attributes and environmental factors. The “weight hierarchy approach” was used to calculate the afforestation quality index of different regions in different 5-year intervals from 2021 to 2060 and extract high-quality potential afforestation lands in each period. By dynamically analyzing the distribution and quality of potential afforestation land from 2021 to 2060, we can identify optimal afforestation sites for each period and formulate a progressive afforestation plan. This approach allows for a more accurate application of the FCS model to evaluate the dynamic changes in the carbon sequestration capacity of newly afforested land from 2021 to 2060. The results indicate that the average potential afforestation land area will reach 75 Mha from 2021 to 2060. In the northern region, afforestation areas are mainly distributed on both sides of the “Hu Line”, while in the southern region, they are primarily distributed in the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau and some coastal provinces. By 2060, the potential calculated cumulative carbon storage of newly afforested lands was 11.68 Pg C, with a peak carbon sequestration rate during 2056–2060 of 0.166 Pg C per year. Incorporating information on the spatiotemporal dynamics of vegetation succession, climate production potential, and vegetation resilience while quantifying the weights of each influencing factor can enhance the accuracy of predictions for potential afforestation lands. The conclusions of this study can provide a reference for the formulation of future afforestation plans and the assessment of their carbon sequestration capacity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Forest Carbon Sequestration and Climate Change Mitigation)

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21 pages, 3594 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Different Responses of Terrestrial Carbon Fluxes to Environmental Changes in Cold Temperate Forest Ecosystems

by Mihang Jiang, Xinjie Liu and Liangyun Liu

Forests 2024, 15(8), 1340; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15081340 - 1 Aug 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1728

Abstract

As the largest carbon reservoir within terrestrial ecosystems, forest ecosystems play a major role as carbon sinks in the global carbon cycle. There are still some uncertainties regarding the responses of different carbon fluxes to environmental changes in cold temperate climate forest ecosystems. [...] Read more.

As the largest carbon reservoir within terrestrial ecosystems, forest ecosystems play a major role as carbon sinks in the global carbon cycle. There are still some uncertainties regarding the responses of different carbon fluxes to environmental changes in cold temperate climate forest ecosystems. Here, 14 cold temperate forest flux sites for at least ten years were investigated, including carbon fluxes and environmental variables such as temperature, precipitation, shortwave radiation, and vapor pressure deficit. By calculating the Spearman correlation coefficient, there was a congruence between photosynthetic productivity (i.e., gross primary productivity, GPP) and carbon sequestration (i.e., net ecosystem productivity, NEP) at thirteen forest sites, and at one forest site, GPP and NEP were decoupled. Annual GPP and NEP displayed a consistent trend when temperature and precipitation had significantly opposite trends and when temperature had a significantly positive correlation with VPD. But when VPD was significantly negatively correlated with both temperature and SW in spring and when temperature was negatively correlated with both SW and VPD in summer, a decoupling of GPP and NEP occurred. The impacts of various environmental factors on the annual carbon fluxes were calculated for each year and season using the path analysis method. At forest sites with consistent trends in GPP and NEP, annual, spring, and summer temperatures had significant positive correlations with GPP and ecosystem respiration (RE). While at the decoupled forest site, environmental factors had a stronger effect on RE, which then contributed to the observed decoupling of GPP and NEP. Finally, the Partial Least Squares method was used to analyze the relative contribution of each environmental factor to annual carbon fluxes. The results revealed that temperature and summer precipitation were the key environmental factors affecting forest ecosystems. This study provides important insights into the different responses of carbon fluxes in forest ecosystems undergoing environmental changes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Forest Carbon Sequestration and Climate Change Mitigation)

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19 pages, 4278 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Responses of Soil Organic Carbon Fractions and Stability to Forest Conversion in the Nanling Nature Reserve, China

by Yifan Li, Fangfang Huang, Yuhui Huang, Wenjuan Li and Mengyun Liu

Forests 2024, 15(8), 1330; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15081330 - 31 Jul 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1188

Abstract

Studying the impact of typical vegetation types in forest conversion zones on soil organic carbon (SOC) structure and stability is crucial for developing terrestrial ecosystem carbon sequestration strategies. In this study, we selected three typical forest stands in the Nanling National Nature Reserve: [...] Read more.

Studying the impact of typical vegetation types in forest conversion zones on soil organic carbon (SOC) structure and stability is crucial for developing terrestrial ecosystem carbon sequestration strategies. In this study, we selected three typical forest stands in the Nanling National Nature Reserve: a primary evergreen broad-leaved forest (BL), a secondary mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forest (ML), and a Chinese fir plantation (CL). Soil samples were collected to examine the SOC fractions and carbon pool management index (CPMI) in three forest stands. The influence of soil property factors on SOC fractions was also analyzed. The results showed that the transformation process from a BL to an ML or a CL changed the structure and stability of organic carbon by reducing the labile SOC fractions and increasing the recalcitrant carbon fraction in the soil. The higher lability index (LI) and CPMI of soils in the BL indicated better carbon accumulation and activity, making this treatment more advantageous for management strategies aimed at promoting natural forest renewal and ecological restoration. Correlation and RDA analysis revealed that the availability of soil P was a key factor limiting the variation in organic C fractions in the acidic soils of tropical forests in South China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Forest Carbon Sequestration and Climate Change Mitigation)

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15 pages, 2948 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dominant Tree Species and Their Age Groups Drive Forest Carbon Storage in Wuyi Mountain National Park, China

by Xing Jin, Shu Lin, Jing Zhu, Fanglin Tan, Huiguang Zhang, Qichao Chen, Yu Hong, Jinfu Liu, Daowei Xu and Zhongsheng He

Forests 2024, 15(3), 546; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15030546 - 17 Mar 2024

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2837

Abstract

Evaluating the carbon storage of forests and identifying the factors that influence it are essential in working towards the “dual carbon” goal. This assessment will facilitate research on carbon neutrality and promote regional ecological protection and development. This study utilized the “One Map” [...] Read more.

Evaluating the carbon storage of forests and identifying the factors that influence it are essential in working towards the “dual carbon” goal. This assessment will facilitate research on carbon neutrality and promote regional ecological protection and development. This study utilized the “One Map” data of forest resources (2020) and the first year (2017) of the establishment of the national park in Wuyi Mountain National Park (WMNP). The continuous biomass expansion factor method, in conjunction with the vegetation carbon content coefficient, was employed to estimate the forest carbon storage within the park’s forested areas. Subsequently, the distribution of forest carbon storage was analyzed using remote sensing estimation methods, and a comparison was made between the forest carbon storage of these two years. Finally, correlation analysis and path analysis were conducted to identify the primary factors influencing forest carbon storage. The study findings reveal that in 2020, the total carbon storage in forests reached 4.851 × 10⁶ t C, with an average carbon density of 49.55 t C·hm⁻². Furthermore, the study identified positive correlations between dominant tree species, age groups, and elevation with carbon storage, whereas slope length and aspect were found to have negative correlations. Dominant tree species were observed to have the greatest impact on forest carbon storage in both 2017 and 2020, followed by age groups. These findings offer valuable scientific insights for the implementation of forest carbon storage pilot projects in WMNP. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Forest Carbon Sequestration and Climate Change Mitigation)

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20 pages, 10594 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Considering the Joint Impact of Carbon Density Change and Land Use Change Is Crucial to Improving Ecosystem Carbon Stock Assessment in North China

by Jiahui Qi, Zong Wang, Elizabeth L. Cressey, Boyi Liang and Jia Wang

Forests 2024, 15(1), 55; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15010055 - 28 Dec 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1521

Abstract

Carbon density change and land use change are important factors in the spatiotemporal evolution of ecosystem carbon stock. Accurately assessing regional carbon stock and analyzing its relationship with land use patterns and carbon density change are of great value to regional ecosystem protection [...] Read more.

Carbon density change and land use change are important factors in the spatiotemporal evolution of ecosystem carbon stock. Accurately assessing regional carbon stock and analyzing its relationship with land use patterns and carbon density change are of great value to regional ecosystem protection and sustainable social and economic development. In order to effectively evaluate the carbon stock in North China, this study divided the target area into 5 sub-regions, and a variety of methods were used to calculate the carbon density in each sub-region over different time periods. The classic InVEST model was selected to evaluate carbon stock evolution under changes in land use and carbon density from 2000 to 2015. The results show that the carbon stock in North China in 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015 were 1.301 × 10¹⁰ t, 1.325 × 10¹⁰ t, 1.332 × 10¹⁰ t and 1.366 × 10¹⁰ t, respectively, with a cumulative increase of 6.506 × 10⁸ t. As two main factors, the land use type change and carbon density change showed different influences on the carbon stock of different regions and different ecosystems, but the former had a greater impact in North China during 2000–2015. Converting farmland to forest and grassland and converting bare land to grassland increased carbon stock, while converting farmland to building land reduced carbon stock. In addition, the carbon density of most land use types in each sub-region increased from 2000 to 2015, which further caused the increase in carbon stock. The carbon stock in North China had a significant spatial pattern of high in the east and low in the west, and this distribution pattern is closely related to land use. This research can provide scientific reference for land use management decision-making and sustainable carbon stock function in North China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Forest Carbon Sequestration and Climate Change Mitigation)

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17 pages, 8723 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Trends in Atmospheric CO₂ Fertilization Effects with Stand Age Based on Tree Rings

by Yanxi Chen, Bin Wang, Mingze Li, Xiangqi Kong and Shaojie Bian

Forests 2023, 14(12), 2441; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14122441 - 14 Dec 2023

Viewed by 1627

Abstract

The increase in global carbon emissions has intensified the effects of CO₂ fertilization on the carbon cycle. CO₂ fertilization is shaped by several factors, including the physiological differences among trees of varied forest ages and types, as well as the influence [...] Read more.

The increase in global carbon emissions has intensified the effects of CO₂ fertilization on the carbon cycle. CO₂ fertilization is shaped by several factors, including the physiological differences among trees of varied forest ages and types, as well as the influence of different climatic conditions. It is essential to investigate the differences in CO₂ fertilization effects across diverse climate zones and delve into the association between these effects and forest age and type. Such exploration will deepen our knowledge of forest responses to environmental changes. This study used annual ring width data from the International Tree-Ring Data Bank, employing the generalized additive mixed models and the Random Forest model to discern the pattern of the CO₂ fertilization effect concerning forest age in the Northern Hemisphere. This study also explored the variations in the effect of CO₂ fertilization across unique climate zones and the disparities among various forest types within the same climatic zone. The results indicated a link between forest age and the CO₂ fertilization effect: it tends to increase in sapling forests and middle-aged forests and diminish in mature forests. Warmer, drier environments had a more marked effect of increased CO₂ on tree fertilization. Additionally, coniferous forests demonstrated a more substantial CO₂ fertilization effect than broadleaf forests, and deciduous needle-leaf forests surpassed evergreen needle-leaf forests in this regard. This research is pivotal in understanding the shifting patterns of CO₂ fertilization effects and how forests respond to atmospheric changes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Forest Carbon Sequestration and Climate Change Mitigation)

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12 pages, 2825 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quantitative Characteristics and Environmental Interpretation of Vegetation Restoration in Burned Areas of the Dry Valleys of Southwest China

by Zhixue He, Jun Luo, Bin Zhang, Lei Wang, Hui Liu, Xueyang Ma and Tianxiang Yue

Forests 2023, 14(11), 2190; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14112190 - 3 Nov 2023

Viewed by 1279

Abstract

Fire is a common natural disturbance in forest ecosystems and plays an important role in subsequent vegetation patterns. Based on the spatial sequence method, adopted as an alternative to the time successional sequence method, we selected burned areas in different locations in the [...] Read more.

Fire is a common natural disturbance in forest ecosystems and plays an important role in subsequent vegetation patterns. Based on the spatial sequence method, adopted as an alternative to the time successional sequence method, we selected burned areas in different locations in the Anning River Basin, which encompasses typical dry valleys. Quadrat surveys and quantitative classification were used to identify and classify the vegetation and distribution pattern and to carry out environmental interpretation during the natural restoration process after a forest fire. The results showed the following: (1) in the early stage of natural recovery after a forest fire disturbance, the vegetation community could be divided into seven community types, and Quercus guyavaefolia H. Leveille (Qg) was the dominant species in the community; (2) the vegetation samples could be divided into five ecological types, and the classification and distribution pattern of community types in this region changed most notably with altitude; and (3) a detrended correspondence analysis could be used to accurately classify vegetation community types, while a detrended canonical correspondence analysis could reveal the relationships between species and environmental factors. This study provides a scientific basis for guiding the restoration of ecosystem structural stability and biodiversity in burned areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Forest Carbon Sequestration and Climate Change Mitigation)

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18 pages, 3310 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Phoebe bournei (Hemsl.) Replanting on Soil Carbon Content and Microbial Processes in a Degraded Fir Forest

by Ting Li, Hanchang Zhou, Jiawen Xu, Hong Zhao, Jiacheng Shen, Chunjiang Liu and Liyan Wang

Forests 2023, 14(11), 2144; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14112144 - 28 Oct 2023

Viewed by 1655

Abstract

Replanting is a widely used method for improving the health and carbon sequestration capacity of degraded forests. However, its impact on soil carbon pools remains controversial. This study investigated the effects of replanting broadleaf Phoebe bournei (Hemsl.) Yang in a typical degraded fir [...] Read more.

Replanting is a widely used method for improving the health and carbon sequestration capacity of degraded forests. However, its impact on soil carbon pools remains controversial. This study investigated the effects of replanting broadleaf Phoebe bournei (Hemsl.) Yang in a typical degraded fir forest. Soil carbon content, nutrient levels, and microbial community structure and function were measured at 0, 5, 8, and 12 years after replanting. The degraded fir forests were originally limited in nitrogen and phosphorus. Phoebe bournei replanting significantly increased soil total carbon but reduced total nitrogen and phosphorus levels, resulting in increased soil carbon:nitrogen, carbon:phosphorus, and nitrogen:phosphorus ratios. Microbial biomass carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus were all significantly reduced, whereas microbial carbon:phosphorus and nitrogen:phosphorus ratios were enhanced. Enzyme activities related to nutrient cycling and carbon decomposition (acidic invertase, polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase, urase, nitrate reductase, and acidic phosphatase activities) were significantly lowered by replanting. Microbial richness and diversity significantly increased, and microbial community composition changed significantly due to replanting. Structural equation modeling revealed the significant role of total phosphorus in microbial biomass, microbial community composition, and enzyme activity, highlighting it as the main factor accelerating soil carbon accumulation. Network analysis identified Leifsonia, Bradyrhizobium, and Mycolicibacterium members as key microbial players in the soil carbon cycle. In summary, P. bournei replanting exacerbated soil phosphorus deficiency, leading to a decrease in soil microbial biomass and changes in community structure, reduced nutrient cycling and carbon-decomposition-related enzyme activities, less litter decomposition, and increased organic carbon accumulation. These findings demonstrate the importance of nutrient limitation in promoting soil carbon accumulation and offer new insights for soil carbon regulation strategies in forestry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Forest Carbon Sequestration and Climate Change Mitigation)

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14 pages, 2160 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Long-Term Nitrogen Addition Could Modify Degradation of Soil Organic Matter through Changes in Soil Enzymatic Activity in a Natural Secondary Forest

by Yanda He, Yajuan Xing, Guoyong Yan, Guancheng Liu, Tong Liu and Qinggui Wang

Forests 2023, 14(10), 2049; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14102049 - 13 Oct 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1436

Abstract

Soil extracellular enzymes play a key role in mediating the degradation of soil organic matter, but little is understood as to how the pattern of soil extracellular enzymes could be altered by nitrogen (N) addition. In this study, the effects of N addition [...] Read more.

Soil extracellular enzymes play a key role in mediating the degradation of soil organic matter, but little is understood as to how the pattern of soil extracellular enzymes could be altered by nitrogen (N) addition. In this study, the effects of N addition (started from 2006, four treatments: control, 0 g N·m^–2·yr^–1; low N addition, 2.5 g N·m^–2·yr^–1; high N addition, 5.0 g N·m^–2·yr^–1) on soil extracellular enzymes and microbial biomass in a natural secondary forest of Northeastern China. The results showed that the activity of urease, sucrase, peroxidase and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosidase decreased with N addition, and the activity of acid phosphatase and leucine aminopeptidase increased significantly with N addition. Soil total N, temperature at 5 cm soil depth, pH value, microbial biomass carbon and microbial biomass N were the key factors affecting soil enzyme activity. In summary, the enzyme activity related to soil organic matter degradation shows a decreasing trend under N addition. The results suggest that the increase in N deposition will slow down the degradation of soil organic matter in natural secondary forest, which is more conducive to the accumulation of organic matter in the soil. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Forest Carbon Sequestration and Climate Change Mitigation)

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24 pages, 29263 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Urban Carbon Price Forecasting by Fusing Remote Sensing Images and Historical Price Data

by Chao Mou, Zheng Xie, Yu Li, Hanzhang Liu, Shijie Yang and Xiaohui Cui

Forests 2023, 14(10), 1989; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14101989 - 3 Oct 2023

Viewed by 1900

Abstract

Under the strict carbon emission quota policy in China, the urban carbon price directly affects the operation of enterprises, as well as forest carbon sequestration. As a result, accurately forecasting carbon prices has been a popular research topic in forest science. Similar to [...] Read more.

Under the strict carbon emission quota policy in China, the urban carbon price directly affects the operation of enterprises, as well as forest carbon sequestration. As a result, accurately forecasting carbon prices has been a popular research topic in forest science. Similar to stock prices, urban carbon prices are difficult to forecast using simple models with only historical prices. Fortunately, urban remote sensing images containing rich human economic activity information reflect the changing trend of carbon prices. However, properly integrating remote sensing data into carbon price forecasting has not yet been investigated. In this study, by introducing the powerful transformer paradigm, we propose a novel carbon price forecasting method, called MFTSformer, to uncover information from urban remote sensing and historical price data through the encoder–decoder framework. Moreover, a self-attention mechanism is used to capture the intrinsic characteristics of long-term price data. We conduct comparison experiments with four baselines, ablation experiments, and case studies in Guangzhou. The results show that MFTSformer reduces errors by up to 52.24%. Moreover, it outperforms the baselines in long-term accurate carbon price prediction (averaging 15.3%) with fewer training resources (it converges rapidly within 20 epochs). These findings suggest that the effective MFTSformer can offer new insights regarding AI to urban forest research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Forest Carbon Sequestration and Climate Change Mitigation)

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17 pages, 4725 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial Heterogeneity of Total and Labile Soil Organic Carbon Pools in Poplar Agroforestry Systems

by Bo Wang, Xiaolong Su, Tongli Wang, Tao Yang, Cheng Xu, Zeyang Lin, Di Tian and Luozhong Tang

Forests 2023, 14(9), 1869; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14091869 - 13 Sep 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1825

Abstract

Agroforestry systems are considered effective methods of carbon sequestration. In these systems, most of the carbon is stored in the soil, and the pattern of tree planting can influence the spatial distribution of organic matter input into the soil. However, limited information is [...] Read more.

Agroforestry systems are considered effective methods of carbon sequestration. In these systems, most of the carbon is stored in the soil, and the pattern of tree planting can influence the spatial distribution of organic matter input into the soil. However, limited information is available about the extent of this influence. In this study, the horizontal and vertical distributions of soil organic carbon (SOC) and labile fractions were investigated in four planting systems: a pure poplar (Populus deltoides cv. “35”) planting system, a wide-row (14 m spacing) poplar and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) agroforestry system, a narrow-row (7 m spacing) poplar and wheat agroforestry system, and a pure wheat field. The results showed that although the poplar system had the highest vegetation biomass (147.50 t ha⁻¹), the agroforestry systems overall had higher SOC contents than the pure poplar system and wheat fields. Especially in the wide-row agroforestry system, the SOC, readily oxidizable carbon, and dissolved organic carbon contents were, respectively, 25.3%, 42.4%, and 99.3% higher than those of the pure poplar system and 60.3%, 148.7%, and 6.3% higher than those of the wheat field in a 1 m soil profile, and it also had the highest fine root biomass. However, the microbial biomass carbon content was highest in the pure poplar system. The SOC of the three poplar planting systems was spatially heterogeneous, with the highest values occurring at 1.5 m in the narrow-row systems and within the tree rows in the wide-row system, similar to the distribution of fine root biomass. Additionally, we found that the larger the diameter at the breast height of the trees, the greater their positive effect on SOC at greater distances. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Forest Carbon Sequestration and Climate Change Mitigation)

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