Individual-Based Allometric Equations Accurately Measure Carbon Storage and Sequestration in Shrublands

Forests

Norman W.H. Mason¹  Peter N. Beets²  Ian Payton³  Larry Burrows³  Robert J. Holdaway³ 

[1] Landcare Research, Private Bag 3127 Hamilton, New Zealand;Scion Research Private Bag 3020, Rotorua, New Zealand; E-Mail:;Landcare Research, P.O. Box 69040, Lincoln 7640, New Zealand; E-Mails:

关键词: afforestation;    emissions management;    emissions trading;    greenhouse gasses;    REDD+;    succession;   

DOI  :  10.3390/f5020309

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Many studies have quantified uncertainty in forest carbon (C) storage estimation, but there is little work examining the degree of uncertainty in shrubland C storage estimates. We used field data to simulate uncertainty in carbon storage estimates from three error sources: (1) allometric biomass equations; (2) measurement errors of shrubs harvested for the allometry; and (3) measurement errors of shrubs in survey plots. We also assessed uncertainty for all possible combinations of these error sources. Allometric uncertainty had the greatest independent effect on C storage estimates for individual plots. The largest error arose when all three error sources were included in simulations (where the 95% confidence interval spanned a range equivalent to 40% of mean C storage). Mean C sequestration (1.73 Mg C ha^–1 year^–1) exceeded the margin of error produced by the simulated sources of uncertainty. This demonstrates that, even when the major sources of uncertainty were accounted for, we were able to detect relatively modest gains in shrubland C storage.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.