Changes in Area and Carbon in Forests of the Middle Zavolgie: A Regional Case Study of Russian Forests

We studied forest land-use and carbon storage over a 40-year period in the Middle Zavolgie region of Russia, an area of approximately 287,000 km². Data were obtained from state forest inventories for 1958 and 1995. In spite of the effects of disturbances and uncontrolled harvesting between 1958 and 1990, the forests of the Middle Zavolgie Region remained a considerable pool of ecosystem carbon (C). Over the study period the total area of forest lands decreased by approximately 2%, while the growing stock increased by 8%. There were significant changes in the age class structure of these forest ecosystems toward a larger proportion of young and middle aged stands. The total amount of carbon in the stem biomass of forests in all regions of Middle Zavolgie increased over the 40-year period and was equal to about 307 TgC in 1995. A regional approach for estimating the C dynamics of forest ecosystems in response to land use in the Middle Zavolgie region can contribute to understanding the potential role of Russian forests in C sequestration. This information is important for implementation of international conventions concerning national carbon budgets and reducing the potential negative impacts of climate change.