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Old-growth forests as global carbon sinks
Sebastiaan Luyssaert1, E-Detlef Schulze, Annett Börner
1Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium. sebastiaan.luyssaert@ua.ac.be
Nature
|September 12, 2008
Summary
Old-growth forests are significant carbon sinks, contrary to popular belief. These forests continue to accumulate carbon dioxide (CO2) for centuries, playing a vital role in mitigating climate change.
Area of Science:
- Forest ecology
- Climate change science
- Carbon cycle research
Background:
- Old-growth forests are considered carbon sinks, storing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) in woody tissues and soil.
- International treaties often overlook old-growth forests, assuming they are carbon neutral and do not accumulate carbon.
- Forest carbon sequestration rates are influenced by climate and nitrogen deposition.
Observation:
- A comprehensive review of forest carbon-flux estimates was conducted.
- Data from forests aged 15 to 800 years were analyzed.
- Net ecosystem productivity (NEP) was found to be positive in most forests within this age range.
Findings:
- Old-growth forests actively accumulate carbon, challenging the notion of them being carbon neutral.
- Unmanaged primary forests, including old-growth stands, cover over 30% of the global forest area.
- Northern Hemisphere boreal and temperate regions host approximately 6 x 10^8 hectares of primary forests, sequestering ~1.3 ± 0.5 Gt of carbon annually.
Implications:
- Approximately 15% of the global forest area, primarily old-growth forests, contributes significantly to global carbon sequestration (at least 10% of global NEP).
- These forests store substantial carbon over centuries, highlighting their importance in climate change mitigation.
- Disturbance of old-growth forests could release significant amounts of stored carbon back into the atmosphere.
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