IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/masfgc/v18y2013i8p1197-1213.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The carbon sequestration potential of tree crop plantations

Author

Listed:
  • Rico Kongsager
  • Jonas Napier
  • Ole Mertz

Abstract

Carbon (C) conservation and sequestration in many developing countries needs to be accompanied by socio-economic improvements. Tree crop plantations can be a potential path for coupling climate change mitigation and economic development by providing C sequestration and supplying wood and non-wood products to meet domestic and international market requirements at the same time. Financial compensation for such plantations could potentially be covered by the Clean Development Mechanism under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC) Kyoto Protocol, but its suitability has also been suggested for integration into REDD + (reducing emissions from deforestation, forest degradation and enhancement of forest C stocks) currently being negotiated under the United Nations FCCC. We assess the aboveground C sequestration potential of four major plantation crops – cocoa (Theobroma cacao), oil palm (Elaeis guineensis), rubber (Hevea brasiliensis), and orange (Citrus sinesis) – cultivated in the tropics. Measurements were conducted in Ghana and allometric equations were applied to estimate biomass. The largest C potential was found in the rubber plantations (214 tC/ha). Cocoa (65 tC/ha) and orange (76 tC/ha) plantations have a much lower C content, and oil palm (45 tC/ha) has the lowest C potential, assuming that the yield is not used as biofuel. There is considerable C sequestration potential in plantations if they are established on land with modest C content such as degraded forest or agricultural land, and not on land with old-growth forest. We also show that simple C assessment methods can give reliable results, which makes it easier for developing countries to partake in REDD + or other payment schemes. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2013

Suggested Citation

  • Rico Kongsager & Jonas Napier & Ole Mertz, 2013. "The carbon sequestration potential of tree crop plantations," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 18(8), pages 1197-1213, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:masfgc:v:18:y:2013:i:8:p:1197-1213
    DOI: 10.1007/s11027-012-9417-z
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1007/s11027-012-9417-z
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11027-012-9417-z?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. J. Germer & J. Sauerborn, 2008. "Estimation of the impact of oil palm plantation establishment on greenhouse gas balance," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 10(6), pages 697-716, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Ximena Rueda & Andrea Paz & Theodora Gibbs‐Plessl & Ronald Leon & Byron Moyano & Eric F Lambin, 2018. "Smallholders at a Crossroad: Intensify or Fall behind? Exploring Alternative Livelihood Strategies in a Globalized World," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(2), pages 215-229, February.
    2. Silvina M. Manrique & Judith Franco, 2020. "Tree cover increase mitigation strategy: implications of the “replacement approach” in carbon storage of a subtropical ecosystem," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 25(8), pages 1481-1508, December.
    3. Rico Kongsager, 2018. "Linking Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation: A Review with Evidence from the Land-Use Sectors," Land, MDPI, vol. 7(4), pages 1-19, December.
    4. Nath, Arun Jyoti & Sileshi, Gudeta W. & Das, Ashesh Kumar, 2018. "Bamboo based family forests offer opportunities for biomass production and carbon farming in North East India," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 191-200.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Alicia Vanessa Jeffary & Osumanu Haruna Ahmed & Roland Kueh Jui Heng & Liza Nuriati Lim Kim Choo & Latifah Omar & Adiza Alhassan Musah & Arifin Abdu, 2021. "Nitrous Oxide Emissions in Pineapple Cultivation on a Tropical Peat Soil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-14, April.
    2. Dislich, Claudia & Hettig, Elisabeth & Heinonen, Johannes & Lay, Jann & Meyer, Katrin M. & Tarigan, Suria & Wiegand, Kerstin, 2015. "Towards an integrated ecological-economic land-use change model," EFForTS Discussion Paper Series 17, University of Goettingen, Collaborative Research Centre 990 "EFForTS, Ecological and Socioeconomic Functions of Tropical Lowland Rainforest Transformation Systems (Sumatra, Indonesia)".
    3. Rulli, Maria Cristina & Casirati, Stefano & Dell’Angelo, Jampel & Davis, Kyle Frankel & Passera, Corrado & D’Odorico, Paolo, 2019. "Interdependencies and telecoupling of oil palm expansion at the expense of Indonesian rainforest," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 499-512.
    4. Chidozie Charles Nnaji & Nkpa Mba Ogarekpe & Ekene Jude Nwankwo, 2022. "Temporal and spatial dynamics of land use and land cover changes in derived savannah hydrological basin of Enugu State, Nigeria," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(7), pages 9598-9622, July.
    5. Uusitalo, V. & Väisänen, S. & Havukainen, J. & Havukainen, M. & Soukka, R. & Luoranen, M., 2014. "Carbon footprint of renewable diesel from palm oil, jatropha oil and rapeseed oil," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 103-113.
    6. Escobar, Neus & Manrique-de-Lara-Peñate, Casiano & Sanjuán, Neus & Clemente, Gabriela & Rozakis, Stelios, 2017. "An agro-industrial model for the optimization of biodiesel production in Spain to meet the European GHG reduction targets," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 619-631.
    7. Dian Iriani, Latifah & Widodo, Tri, 2019. "The Implication of B20 Policy on Environment," MPRA Paper 91313, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Hennecke, Anna M. & Faist, Mireille & Reinhardt, Jürgen & Junquera, Victoria & Neeft, John & Fehrenbach, Horst, 2013. "Biofuel greenhouse gas calculations under the European Renewable Energy Directive – A comparison of the BioGrace tool vs. the tool of the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 55-62.
    9. Kuok Ho Daniel Tang & Hamad M. S. Al Qahtani, 2020. "Sustainability of oil palm plantations in Malaysia," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(6), pages 4999-5023, August.
    10. Arif Surahman & Peeyush Soni & Ganesh P. Shivakoti, 2019. "Improving strategies for sustainability of short-term agricultural utilization on degraded peatlands in Central Kalimantan," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 21(3), pages 1369-1389, June.
    11. Khatun, Rahima & Reza, Mohammad Imam Hasan & Moniruzzaman, M. & Yaakob, Zahira, 2017. "Sustainable oil palm industry: The possibilities," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 608-619.
    12. Cacho, Oscar J. & Milne, Sarah & Gonzalez, Ricardo & Tacconi, Luca, 2014. "Benefits and costs of deforestation by smallholders: Implications for forest conservation and climate policy," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 321-332.
    13. Rodrigues, Thiago Oliveira & Caldeira-Pires, Armando & Luz, Sandra & Frate, Claudio Albuquerque, 2014. "GHG balance of crude palm oil for biodiesel production in the northern region of Brazil," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 516-521.
    14. Dislich, Claudia & Keyel, Alexander C. & Salecker, Jan & Kisel, Yael & Meyer, Katrin M. & Corre, Marife D. & Faust, Heiko & Hess, Bastian & Knohl, Alexander & Kreft, Holger & Meijide, Ana & Nurdiansya, 2015. "Ecosystem functions of oil palm plantations - a review," EFForTS Discussion Paper Series 16, University of Goettingen, Collaborative Research Centre 990 "EFForTS, Ecological and Socioeconomic Functions of Tropical Lowland Rainforest Transformation Systems (Sumatra, Indonesia)".
    15. Schaffartzik, Anke & Brad, Alina & Pichler, Melanie, 2017. "A world away and close to home: The multi-scalar ‘making of’ Indonesia's energy landscape," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 817-824.
    16. Sharma, Sunil K. & Baral, Himlal & Laumonier, Yves & Okarda, Beni & Komarudin, Heru & Purnomo, Herry & Pacheco, Pablo, 2019. "Ecosystem services under future oil palm expansion scenarios in West Kalimantan, Indonesia," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 39(C).
    17. Doshi, Amar & Pascoe, Sean & Coglan, Louisa & Rainey, Thomas J., 2016. "Economic and policy issues in the production of algae-based biofuels: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 329-337.
    18. Biatna Dulbert Tampubolon & Ajun Tri Setyoko, 2019. "Controlling Policies on Fossil Fuels Subsidies to Overcome Climate Change," Energy Economics Letters, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 6(1), pages 1-16, March.
    19. Silalertruksa, Thapat & Gheewala, Shabbir H., 2012. "Environmental sustainability assessment of palm biodiesel production in Thailand," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 43(1), pages 306-314.
    20. Mwaura, Francis, 2014. "Understanding dynamism of land ownership, use and patterns of allocation for the locals before inviting foreign investors: the Ugandan case," Conference papers 332543, Purdue University, Center for Global Trade Analysis, Global Trade Analysis Project.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:masfgc:v:18:y:2013:i:8:p:1197-1213. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.