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Old-growth forests as global carbon sinks

Author

Listed:
  • Sebastiaan Luyssaert

    (University of Antwerp
    College of Forestry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331-5752, USA)

  • E. -Detlef Schulze

    (Max-Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry)

  • Annett Börner

    (Max-Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry)

  • Alexander Knohl

    (ETH Zürich, Institute of Plant Sciences)

  • Dominik Hessenmöller

    (Max-Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry)

  • Beverly E. Law

    (College of Forestry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331-5752, USA)

  • Philippe Ciais

    (Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement, IPSL-LSCE, CEA-CNRS-UVSQ, 91191 Gif sur Yvette Cedex, France)

  • John Grace

    (School of GeoSciences, The University of Edinburgh)

Abstract

Don't cut into old wood It has long been assumed that ageing forests cease to accumulate carbon, and become carbon neutral. They are therefore not recognized for 'forest credits' in treaties such as the Kyoto Protocol. Now an extensive literature and database search for forest carbon-flux estimates shows that the net carbon balance of ageing forests is usually positive. The findings suggest that old-growth forests can continue to accumulate carbon, and that they contribute at least 10% of global net ecosystem productivity. Much of this carbon, even soil carbon, will move back to the atmosphere if these forests are disturbed, so it would make sense for carbon accounting rules to give credit for leaving old forests intact.

Suggested Citation

  • Sebastiaan Luyssaert & E. -Detlef Schulze & Annett Börner & Alexander Knohl & Dominik Hessenmöller & Beverly E. Law & Philippe Ciais & John Grace, 2008. "Old-growth forests as global carbon sinks," Nature, Nature, vol. 455(7210), pages 213-215, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:455:y:2008:i:7210:d:10.1038_nature07276
    DOI: 10.1038/nature07276
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Kangas, Johanna & Ollikainen, Markku, 2022. "A PES scheme promoting forest biodiversity and carbon sequestration," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
    2. Joan P. Casas-Ruiz & Pascal Bodmer & Kelly Ann Bona & David Butman & Mathilde Couturier & Erik J. S. Emilson & Kerri Finlay & Hélène Genet & Daniel Hayes & Jan Karlsson & David Paré & Changhui Peng & , 2023. "Integrating terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems to constrain estimates of land-atmosphere carbon exchange," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-17, December.
    3. Julia Noë & Karl-Heinz Erb & Sarah Matej & Andreas Magerl & Manan Bhan & Simone Gingrich, 2021. "Altered growth conditions more than reforestation counteracted forest biomass carbon emissions 1990–2020," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-10, December.
    4. Ninan, K.N. & Inoue, Makoto, 2013. "Valuing forest ecosystem services: What we know and what we don't," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 137-149.
    5. Bentsen, Niclas Scott, 2017. "Carbon debt and payback time – Lost in the forest?," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 1211-1217.
    6. Ann Ingerson, 2011. "Carbon storage potential of harvested wood: summary and policy implications," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 16(3), pages 307-323, March.
    7. Jessica Stubenrauch & Beatrice Garske & Felix Ekardt & Katharina Hagemann, 2022. "European Forest Governance: Status Quo and Optimising Options with Regard to the Paris Climate Target," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-35, April.
    8. Wolfersberger, Julien & Amacher, Gregory S. & Delacote, Philippe & Dragicevic, Arnaud, 2022. "The dynamics of deforestation and reforestation in a developing economy," Environment and Development Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 27(3), pages 272-293, June.
    9. Bellassen, V. & Le Maire, G. & Dhôte, J.F. & Ciais, P. & Viovy, N., 2010. "Modelling forest management within a global vegetation model—Part 1: Model structure and general behaviour," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 221(20), pages 2458-2474.
    10. Scheller, Robert M. & Hua, Dong & Bolstad, Paul V. & Birdsey, Richard A. & Mladenoff, David J., 2011. "The effects of forest harvest intensity in combination with wind disturbance on carbon dynamics in Lake States Mesic Forests," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 222(1), pages 144-153.
    11. Bergkvist, John & Lagergren, Fredrik & Linderson, Maj-Lena Finnander & Miller, Paul & Lindeskog, Mats & Jönsson, Anna Maria, 2023. "Modelling managed forest ecosystems in Sweden: An evaluation from the stand to the regional scale," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 477(C).
    12. Komeil JAHANIFAR & Hamid AMIRNEJAD & Zahra ABEDI & Alireza VAFAEINEJAD, 2017. "Estimation of the value of forest ecosystem services to develop conservational strategy management (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats)," Journal of Forest Science, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 63(7), pages 300-312.
    13. James, Keith, 2012. "An investigation of the relationship between recycling paper and card and greenhouse gas emissions from land use change," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 44-55.
    14. Anyomi, K.A. & Mitchell, S.J. & Ruel, J.-C., 2016. "Windthrow modelling in old-growth and multi-layered boreal forests," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 327(C), pages 105-114.
    15. Zhang, Qian & Wang, Rong & Tang, Decai & Boamah, Valentina, 2023. "The role and transmission mechanism of forest resource abundance on low-carbon economic development in the Yangtze River Delta region: Insights from the COP26 targets," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PA).
    16. Bohn, Friedrich J. & Frank, Karin & Huth, Andreas, 2014. "Of climate and its resulting tree growth: Simulating the productivity of temperate forests," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 278(C), pages 9-17.
    17. Felzer, Benjamin S., 2012. "Carbon, nitrogen, and water response to climate and land use changes in Pennsylvania during the 20th and 21st centuries," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 240(C), pages 49-63.
    18. Craig Loehle, 2023. "The problem of permanence for carbon sequestration in forests," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 28(8), pages 1-11, December.
    19. Graves, Rose A. & Nielsen-Pincus, Max & Haugo, Ryan D. & Holz, Andrés, 2022. "Forest carbon incentive programs for non-industrial private forests in Oregon (USA): Impacts of program design on willingness to enroll and landscape-scale program outcomes," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    20. Infante-Amate, Juan & Iriarte-Goñi, Iñaki & Urrego-Mesa, Alexander & Gingrich, Simone, 2022. "From woodfuel to industrial wood: A socio-metabolic reading of the forest transition in Spain (1860–2010)," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).
    21. Stubenrauch, Jessica & Garske, Beatrice, 2023. "Forest protection in the EU's renewable energy directive and nature conservation legislation in light of the climate and biodiversity crisis – Identifying legal shortcomings and solutions," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    22. Bjart Holtsmark, 2016. "Carbon dynamics related to tree planting on new areas in Norway," Discussion Papers 848, Statistics Norway, Research Department.
    23. Meenakshi Kaul & G. Mohren & V. Dadhwal, 2010. "Carbon storage versus fossil fuel substitution: a climate change mitigation option for two different land use categories based on short and long rotation forestry in India," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 15(4), pages 395-409, April.

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