Biomass carbon sequestration by planted forests in China

The planted forest area and carbon sequestration have increased significantly in China, because of large-scale reforestation and afforestation in the past decades. In this study, we developed an age-based volume-to-biomass method to estimate the carbon storage by planted forests in China in the period of 1973–2003 based on the data from 1209 field plots and national forest inventories. The results show that the total carbon storage of planted forests was 0.7743 Pg C in 1999–2003, increased by 3.08 times since the early 1970s. The carbon density of planted forests varied from 10.6594 Mg/ha to 23.9760 Mg/ha and increased by 13.3166 Mg/ha from 1973–1976 to 1999–2003. Since the early 1970s, the planted forests in China have been always a carbon sink, and the annual rate of carbon sequestration was 0.0217 Pg C/yr. The carbon storage and densities of planted forests varied greatly in space and time. The carbon storage of Middle South China was in the lead in all regions, which accounted for 23%–36% of national carbon storage. While higher C densities (from 17.79 Mg/ha to 26.05 Mg/ha) were usually found in Northeast China. The planted forests in China potentially have a high carbon sequestration since a large part of them are becoming mature and afforestation continues to grow.     

A system dynamics model for billion trees tsunami afforestation project of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan:Model application to afforestation activities

As part of the global effort to plant billion trees, an afforestation project is launched in Pakistan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa(KP) province to conserve existing forests and to increase area under forest cover. The present study is designed to build a Systems' model by incorporating major activities of the Billion Tree Tsunami Afforestation Project(BTTAP) with special focus on afforestation activities to estimate the growth in forest area of KP.Availability of complete dataset was a challenge. To fix the model, the raw data taken from the project office has been utilized. Planning Commission Form 1-Phase I II helped us with additional information.We relied on the data available for one and half period of the project as rest of the data is subject to the completion of the project. Our results show that the project target to enhance area under forest differs from the target to afforest area under the project. The system dynamics' model projection shows that the forest area of KP would be 23.59 million hectares at the end of the BTTA project, thus having an increaseof 3.29% instead of 2% that has been initially proposed. However, the results show that the progress to meet the target in some afforestation classes is slow as compared to other categories. Farm forestry, plantation on communal lands and owners' plantation need special focus of the authority.Deforestation would affect 0.02 million hectares area of the project. The model under study may be used as a reference model that can be replicated to other areas where billion tree campaigns are going on.     

Spatial patterns in natural <Emphasis Type="Italic">Picea crassifolia</Emphasis> forests of northwestern China,as basis for close-to-nature forestry

Close-to-nature forest management has been proposed as an effective method for improving the quality of plantation forests. Knowledge of spatial distribution patterns, structure, and succession trajectories in natural forests can provide guidelines for the establishment of close-to-nature forest plantations. Such knowledge is lacking in natural spruce (Picea crassifolia) forests in the Qilian Mountains of China, impeding the establishment of production forests. We conducted a case study in the Qilian Mountains to analyze the relationships between the naturally-formed forest patches and terrain factors, spatial heterogeneity of stand characteristics, and stand structure following harvesting disturbance. Our results suggested that spruce plantations will be effective on the N, NE, and NW slopes, at elevations between 2700 and 3300 m, and on slopes ranging from 15° to 45°. Further, planted forest patches should occupy 64% of the slope area on semi-shady slopes (NE, NW). Spatial patterns in the studied forest exhibited a strong scale-effect, and an area of 0.25 ha could be used as the most efficient plot scale for the management of spruce plantations. Partial logging is an effective method for the conversion of spruce planted forests into nearnatural forests, and the intensity of partial logging can be determined from the negative exponential function relationship between stand density and DBH. Our results provided critical information for the development of spruce plantations and conversion of existing plantations.     

Study on vegetation and climate changes in Beijing region since late pleistocene

１　ＩＮＴＲＯＤＵＣＴＩＯＮＳｉｎｃｅｔｈｅ１９８０ｓａｓｅｒｉｅｓｏｆｒｅｓｅａｒｃｈｐｌａｎｉｎｃｌｕｄｉｎｇＩＧＢＰ（ｔｈｅＩｎｔｅｒｎａｔｉｏｎａｌＧｅｏｓｐｈｅｒｅ．ＢｉｏｓｐｈｅｒｅＰｒｏｇｒａｍｍｅ）ｈａｖｅｂｅｅｎｓｅｔｕｐ,ｏｆｔｈｅｍ,ＰＡＧＥＳ（ｔｈｅＰａｓｔＧｌｏｂａｌｃｈａｎｇｅｓ）ｉｓａｎｉｍｐｏｒｔａｎｔｃｏｒｅｐｒｏｊｅｃｔ．Ｔｈｅｎａｔｕｒｅｒｅｃｏｒｄｓｏｆｏｃｅａｎｄｅｐｏｓｉｔ,ｔｅｒｒｅｓｔｒｉａｌ（ｌｏｅｓｓ,ｌａｋｅｓａｎｄｓｗａｍｐ）ｄｅｐｏｓｉ…     

Ecological distribution of soil animals in broad-leaved pine forests in southern slope of Xiao Hinggan Mountains

Broad leaved pine forests are the typical zonal vegetation and its central distribution zone is in the Changbai Mountains in northeast China. However, because of man's disturbance and destruction, primitive broad leaved pine forests exist now only in a few areas such as the Changbai Mountains of Jilin Province and Wuying, Liangshui Natural Reserves of Heilongjiang Province, and the forests in other places are substituted by natural secondary forests (WANG, 1994). Broad leaved pine …     

Reconstructing holocene palaeorunoff regimes from palaeoclimate: An initial attempt to apply a climatological approach to palaeohydrology for the north China plain

１　ＩＮＴＲＯＤＵＣＴＩＯＮＲｕｎｏｆｆｉｓｄｅｆｉｎｅｄａｓｔｈｅｗａｔｅｒｔｈａｔｄｒａｉｎｓｆｒｏｍｔｈｅｌａｎｄｉｎｔｏｃｒｅｅｋｓａｎｄｒｉｖｅｒｓ（Ｌａｎｇｂｅｉｎｅｔａｌ．,１９４９）ａｎｄｔｈｕｓａｖｅｒｙｉｍｐｏｒｔａｎｔｈｙｄｒｏｌｏｇｉｃａｌｐａｒａｍｅｔｅｒｄｅｓｃｒｉｂｉｎｇｑｕａｎｔｉｔｙｓｔａｔｕｓｏｆｓｕｒｆａｃｅｗａｔｅｒ．Ｉｔｉｓｌａｒｇｅｌｙａｆｕｎｃｔｉｏｎｏｆｔｈｅｃｌｉｍａｔｉｃｃｏｎｄｉｔｉｏｎｓｔｈｏｕｇｈｉｔｉｓａｌｓｏａｆｆｅｃｔｅｄｂｙｖｅ…     

基于HJ-1A/B CCD数据的河南省平原绿化分析

平原绿化在未来农林发展中具有重要地位。本文利用环境卫星(HJ-1 A/B)多时相数据,选择河南省6月冬小麦收割后的CCD数据,直接去除第二季作物,并利用4月份第一季作物播种前的CCD数据,剔除了一季作物,以及[(NDVI_4月≥0.22)与(NDVI_6月≥0.35)]提取平原绿化的信息,其与26个主要城市城区绿化信息进行的相关分析达到显著水平(R²=0.9166)。因此,该区的平原绿化解译效果好,而南部信阳市以一季水稻为主的地区及“水稻-冬小麦”过渡区,解译效果较差。除信阳外,由HJ-1卫星解译的河南平原绿化总面积6909.8 km²,占2010年河南省森林面积20.53%。     

Carbon sequestration in forest vegetation of Beijing at sublot level

Based on forest inventory data (FID) at sublot level,we estimated the carbon sequestration in forest vegetation of Beijing,China in 2009.In this study,the carbon sequestration in forest vegetation at sublot level was calculated based on net biomass production (ΔB) which was estimated with biomass of each sublot and function relationships between ΔB and biomass.The biomass of forested land was calculated with biomass expansion factors (BEFs) method,while those of shrub land and other forest land types were estimated with biomass,coverage and height of referred shrubs and shrub coverage and height of each sublot.As one of special forested land types,the biomass of economic tree land was calculated with biomass per tree and tree number.The variation of carbon sequestration in forest vegetation with altitude,species and stand age was also investigated in this study.The results indicate that the carbon sequestration in forest vegetation in Beijing is 4.12 × 106 tC/yr,with the average rate of 3.94 tC/(ha·yr).About 56.91% of the total carbon sequestration in forest vegetation is supported by the forest in the plain with an altitude of < 60 m and the low mountainous areas with an altitude from 400 m to 800 m.The carbon sequestration rate in forest vegetation is the highest in the plain area with an altitude of < 60 m and decreased significantly in the transitional area from the low plain to the low mountainous area with an altitude ranging from 200 m to 400 m due to intensive human disturbance.The carbon sequestration of Populus spp.forest and Quercus spp.forest are relatively higher than those of other plant species,accounting for 25.33% of the total.The carbon sequestration in vegetation by the forest of < 40 years amounts to 45.38% of the total.The carbon sequestration rate in forest vegetation peaks at the stand age of 30–40 years.Therefore,it would be crucial for enhancing the capability of carbon sequestration in forest vegetation to protect the forest in Beijing,to limit human disturbance in the transitional area from the plain to the low mountain area,and to foster the newly established open forest.     

RS AND GIS-BASED FOREST FIRE RISK ZONE MAPPING IN DA HINGGAN MOUNTAINS

1INTRODUCTIONForests are one of the major natural resources that per-form important environmental and recreational func-tions (COSTANZA and GROOT, 1997). It is well known that forests can absorb atmospheric carbon, maintain a certain degree of humidity in atmosphere, regulate rainfall, moderate temperature, and restrain soil erosion, etc. (AURELIA, 2003). So, the health of a forest in any given area is a very important indicator of the ecological conditions. But fire is the great…     

More than Carbon Stocks： A Case Study of Ecosystem-based Benefits of REDD＋ in Indonesia

During the 15th Conference of the Parties(COP 15),Parties agreed that reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and enhancing ’removals of greenhouse gas emission by forests’(REDD+) in developing countries through positive incentives under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC) was capable of dealing with global emissions.As REDD+ seeks to lower emissions by stopping deforestation and forest degradation with an international payment tier according to baseline scenarios,opportunities for ecosystem benefits such as slowing habitat fragmentation,conservation of forest biodiversity,soil conservation may be also part of this effort.The primary objective of this study is to evaluate ecosystem-based benefits of REDD+,and to identify the relationships with carbon stock changes.To achieve this goal,high resolution satellite images are combined with Normalized Difference Vegetation Index(NDVI) to identify historical deforestation in study area of Central Kalimantan,Indonesia.The carbon emissions for the period of 2000-2005 and 2005-2009 are 2.73 × 10 5 t CO 2 and 1.47 × 10 6 t CO 2 respectively,showing an increasing trend in recent years.Dring 2005-2009,number of patches(NP),patch density(PD),mean shape index distribution(SHAPE_MN) increased 30.8%,30.7% and 7.6%.Meanwhile,largest patch index(LPI),mean area(AREA_MN),area-weighted mean of shape index distribution(SHAPE_AM),neighbor distance(ENN_MN) and interspersion and juxtaposition index(IJI) decreased by 55.3%,29.7%,15.8%,53.4% and 21.5% respectively.The area regarding as positive correlation between carbon emissions and soil erosion was approximately 8.9 × 10 3 ha corresponding to 96.0% of the changing forest.These results support the view that there are strong synergies among carbon loss,forest fragmentation and soil erosion in tropical forests.Such mechanism of REDD+ is likely to present opportunities for multiple benefits that fall outside the scope of carbon stocks.     

BASIC FEATURES OF FOREST STEPPE IN THE LOESS PLATEAU OF CHINA

ＢＡＳＩＣＦＥＡＴＵＲＥＳＯＦＦＯＲＥＳＴＳＴＥＰＰＥＩＮＴＨＥＬＯＥＳＳＰＬＡＴＥＡＵＯＦＣＨＩＮＡ￥ＺｈｕＺｈｉｃｈｅｎｇ（朱志诚）（ＤｅｐａｒｔｍｅｎｔｏｆＢｉｏｌｏｇｙ．ＮｏｒｔｈｗｅｓｔＵｎｉｖｅｒｓｉｔｙ，Ｘｉａｎ７１００６９，ＰＲＣ）Ａ...     

沿海防护林非线性波段比的遥感快速提取及变化分析

本文以福建省漳浦县沿海区域为研究对象,利用2005年的CBERS-02数据和2000年的ETM+数据,进行沿海防护林快速提取研究。通过分析沿海防护林和沿海地区其他典型地物在原始波段、归一化植被指数ND-VI和非线性波段比NLBR的光谱特征,提出了适用于不同传感器的沿海防护林快速提取方法。研究发现,综合利用NDVI大于阈值1和NLBR小于阈值2,可以实现沿海防护林的快速提取,而阈值可以根据NDVI和NLBR的散点图确定。该方法对具有绿、红和近红外3个波段的不同传感器数据均有一定的参考价值。研究区2000年²005年间,沿海防护林减少的面积是增加面积的1.46倍,政府相关部门应该加大对防护林的管理和建设力度,增强沿海地区防御自然灾害的能力。     

Tree Planting:How Fast Can It Accelerate Post-fire Forest Restoration?——A Case Study in Northern Da Hinggan Mountains,China

In 1987,a catastrophic fire burned over 1330000 ha in the densely forested area of the Da Hinggan Mountains in the northeastern China.After the fire,intensive management including burned trunk harvesting and coniferous tree planting had been conducted to accelerate forest restoration.To study the long term effect of these activities on forest recovery,we used a simulation modeling approach to study long-term(300 years) forest dynamics under current planting and natural regeneration scenarios.Results indicat...     

Utilisation and Management Changes in South Kyrgyzstan＇s Mountain Forests

Using political ecology as its conceptual framework, this paper focuses on the changes in forest utilisation and management of South Kyrgyzstan＇s walnut-fruit forests over the last century The aim of this study on human-environment interactions is to investigate the relationship between actors on the one side, their interests and demands, and the forests and forested lands on the other. Forest resource utilisation and management - and even the recognition of different forest products as resources - are connected with political and socioeconomic conditions that change with time. The walnut-fruit forests of South Kyrgyzstan are unique, characterised by high biodiversity and a multiplicity of usable products; and they have been utilised for a long time. Centralised and formal management of the forests started with the Russian occupation and was strengthened under Soviet rule, when the region became a part of the USSR. During this era, a state forest administration that was structured from Moscow all the way down to the local level drew up detailed plans and developed procedures for utilising the different forest products. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the socio-political and economic frame conditions have changed significantly, which has brought not only the sweeping changes in the managing institutions, but also the access rights and interests in the forest resources. At present, the region is suffering from a high unemployment rate, which has resulted in the forests＇ gaining considerable importance in the livelihood strategies of the local population. Political and economic liberalization, increased communication and transregional exchange relations have opened the door for international companies and agents interested in the valuable forest products. Today, walnut wood and burls, walnuts, wild apples and mushrooms are all exported to various countries in the world. Scientists and members of various international organisations stress the ecological value of the forests and are trying to establish nature conservation areas. Nevertheless, it is to fear that a multiplicity of interrelated factors - the present transformation and globalization processes, the appearance of new actors, the local population＇s insecure economic situation and the erosion of managing institutions - are all leading to an intensified and unregulated exploitation of the forests, resulting in their degradation.     

Identification of ice elevation change of the Shuiguan River No. 4 glacier in the Qilian Mountains,China

GPS measurement,an effective method for surveying glacier surface topography,has been applied in some glaciers for many years.The Shuiguan River No.4 glacier,a small glacier with its area of 1.84 km2 in 1972,located in the east of the Qilian Mountains,China,was selected to study its ice elevation change using GPS measurement in 2007.This study was conducted on the ablation area with GPS-measured area 0.5 km2.The ice elevation change of the glacier was obtained by comparing the DEM obtained by a 1:50 000 topographic map made in 1972 with the DEM by GPS-measured data acquired in 2007.The differences of the two DEMs showed the thinning condition of the glacier was apparent.The mean thinning was 15±8 m with the mean thinning rate of 0.42±0.22 m a-1 for 1972-2007 in the measurement area,which equaled 0.38±0.20 m yr-1 in water equivalent(w.e.).The prominent thinning occurred on the south part of the glacier,which was the area near the glacier terminus with the maximum thinning of 41±8 m.Assuming the thinning value of 15±8 m for the glacier area below 4640 m a.s.l.,the wasting ice mass was calculated to be 6.4±3.2×10-3 km3 for 1972-2007,corresponding to 5.7±2.8×10-3 km3 w.e.,which meant that the montane runoff released by the glacier was at least 5.7±2.8×106 m3 between 1972-2007.     

Effect of traditional management practices on woody species composition and structure in montane subtropical forests of Meghalaya,Northeast India

In Meghalaya, northeast India, the local people have the tradition of managing forest resources since early ages. The management practice varies and there are forests with high degree of protection, where no extraction (sacred forests) is allowed. There are also forests with moderate- level of protection and -extraction (reserved forests) as well as forests with low level of protection and open extraction (village forests). The present study was conducted to understand the impact of this traditional management system on the level of human disturbance, and on community composition and structure of the forests in Khasi hills of Meghalaya. The result revealed that disturbance index was low, whereas species richness, density and basal cover were significantly high in forests with high degree of protection (sacred forest) than those with low protection (reserved and village forest). Majority of endemic and threatened plant species were restricted to sacred forests as compared to the other forest types. Though these practices have ensured the sustainable use of forest resources by the local people but due to increased human- pressure and -disturbances, more effective conservation strategies need to be undertaken. Therefore, providing alternatives for fuel Received: 28 July 2016 Revised: 1 October 2016 Accepted: 15 December 2016 wood to local people, environmental education, encouraging afforestation and developmental activities involving local communities are recommended.     

Diversity,composition and host-species relationships of epiphytic orchids and ferns in two forests in Nepal

Epiphytic plant species are an important part of biological diversity. It is therefore essential to understand the distribution pattern and the factors influencing such patterns. The present study is aimed at observing the patterns of species richness, abundances and species composition of epiphytic orchids and ferns in two subtropical forests in Nepal. We also studied the relationship of host plants (Schima wallichii and Quercus lanata) and epiphyte species. Data were collected in Naudhara community forest (CF) and the national forest (NF) in Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park. The data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate tests. In total, we recorded 41 species of epiphytes (33 orchid and 8 fern species). Orchid species abundance is significantly higher in CF compared to NF. Orchid species richness and abundance increased with increasing southern aspect whereas it decreased with increasing canopy cover, and fern species richness increased with host bark roughness. Orchid abundance was positively correlated with increasing bark pH, stem size, tree age and tree height and negatively correlated with increasing steepness of the area. Likewise, fern abundances were high in places with high canopy cover, trees that were tall and big, but decreased with increasing altitude and southern aspect. The composition of the orchid and fern species was affected by altitude, aspect, canopy cover, DBH, number of forks and forest management types. We showed that the diversity of orchid and fern epiphytes is influenced by host characteristics as well as host types. The most important pre-requisite for a high epiphyte biodiversity is the presence of old respectively tall trees, independent of the recent protection status. This means: (i) for protection, e.g. in the frame of the national park declaration, such areas should be used which host such old tall trees; and (ii) also in managed forests and even in intensively used landscapes epiphytes can be protected by letting a certain number of trees be and by giving them space to grow old and tall.     

太行山东麓汤西断裂南段活动特征分析

采用槽探、年代样品测试、阶地调查和形变测量监测等方法，对太行山东麓汤西断裂南段进行研究，分析其活动特征。结果表明，汤西断裂发育于中更新世，历经多次活动，断裂并未上延到上更新统地层中，其南段的活动强度较高，最新活动年代为中更新世；汤西断裂西代村场地的垂直形变监测（1999~2014年）结果存在异常，综合监测点数据和区域新构造特征分析发现，该异常可能是研究区区域形变场的反映，并非由汤西断裂活动引起。     

Effects of afforestation on carbon storage in Boyang Lake Basin, China

By using field survey data from the sixth forest inventory of Jiangxi Province in 2003, the biomass and carbon storage for three studied species （Pinus massoniana, Cunninghamia lanceolata, and Pinus elliottii） were estimated in Taihe and Xingguo counties of Boyang Lake Basin, Jiangxi Province, China. The relationship between carbon density and forest age was analyzed by logistic equations. Spatio-temporal dynamics of forest biomass and carbon storage in 1985-2003 were also described. The results show that total stand area of the three forest species was 3.10 × 10^5 ha, total biomass 22.20 Tg, vegetation carbon storage 13.07 Tg C, and average carbon density 42.36 Mg C/ha in the study area in 2003. Carbon storage by forest type in descending order was： P. massoniana, C. lanceolata and P. elliottii. Carbon storage by forest age group in descending order was： middle stand, young stand, near-mature stand and mature stand. Carbon storage by plantation forests was 1.89 times higher than that by natural forests. Carbon density of the three species increased 8.58 Mg C/ha during the study period. The carbon density of Taihe County was higher in the east and west, and lower in the middle. The carbon density of Xingguo County was higher in the northeast and lower in the middle. In general, the carbon density increased with altitude and gradient. Afforestation projects contribute significantly to increasing stand area and carbon storage. Appropriate forest management may improve the carbon sequestration capacity of forest ecosystems.     

Recreational potential as an indicator of accessibility control in protected mountain forest areas

The article presents research findings related to recreational use of forests located in protected mountainous areas with forestage of over 80%. The study was designed to identify recreational potential of the Carpathian national parks(Bieszczady National Park, Babia Góra National Park, Gorce National Park and Magura National Park; southern Poland) and to compare these findings with the actual number of visitors. The information received on the recreational potential of parks is important from the point of view of protection of natural resources and the financial situation of the parks. The calculated ratio may be an effective tool of management for park administration, that allows to reconcile statutory social and protective functions of national parks. The study determined the recreational potential of the forests with the use of recreational valorisation method designed for areas with varied terrain, and the evaluated factors included the stands of trees with their habitat and land relief. The permissible number of national park visitors, expressed as manhour/ha/year ranges from 19.31 in Bieszczady National Park(BG: 19o 35' E, 49o 35' N) to 32.06 in in Bieszczady National Park(B: 22o 40' E, 49o 10' N). In 3 out of 4 investigated parks, Magura National Park(M: 21°25' E, 49o 30' N), Gorce National Park(G: 20o10' E, 49o 35' N), B) recreation carrying capacity was not exceeded, whether or not the strictly protected area is taken into account. Only in BG was the recreation carrying capacity exceeded by nearly 24%,or by 85% if the strictly protected area isexcluded from tourism-related exploitation. The presented procedure for monitoring access to mountain forests in national parks, from the viewpoint of natural resources conservation, can be applied in other mountainous areas covered with forests and exposed to tourist and recreational traffic,and in forests facing particular risk of recreational damage, e.g. in urban and suburban forests growing in areas with varied orography.