From soils to trees: Carbon stocks in high-graded, successional and old-growth forests in South American temperate rainforests
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25260/EA.25.35.3.0.2580Keywords:
ecological succession, ecological silviculture, evergreen forest, Nothofagus dombeyi, Chusquea quilaAbstract
1. Forest ecosystems provide an essential service to humanity by storing carbon and helping to mitigate climate change. Temperate rainforests in South America can accumulate elevated levels of carbon both in aboveground biomass and in the soil. This varies depending on location, successional stage and conservation status.
2. In the Coastal Range of south-central Chile, evergreen hardwood-dominated forests include old-growth stands and disturbed forests in various successional stages. In the Llancahue Experimental Forest, we compared carbon stocks across four forest types: old-growth forests (OGF), high-graded forests (HGF), mixed secondary forests (MSF) and secondary forests dominated by Nothofagus dombeyi (NDSF). Using nine 400 m2 plots per type of forest (total=36 plots), we sampled all trees with a diameter ≥5.0 cm, along with coarse woody debris, regeneration, herbaceous plants, shrubs, litter and soil. We estimated biomass using field samples and allometric equations. Carbon content was calculated using IPCC conversion factors.
3. OGF showed the highest carbon stock (507 Mg C/ha), followed by NDSF (442), MSF (365) and HGF (221). Carbon in trees and soils made up 82-91% of total stocks, with trees contributing more than soil in OGF and NDSF (~1.3 ratio), while soil was more significant in HGF and MSF (~0.8 ratio). We conclude that older, undisturbed forests store more carbon than younger or high-graded ones. However, the differences were smaller than expected.
4. Implications. This study adds important ecological information regarding the value of secondary and primary forests in carbon retention. Therefore, it also discusses the opportunities of managed or restored forests to contribute significantly to this objective, simultaneously allowing sustainable timber production.
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