Quantifying carbon storage and sequestration by native and non-native forests under contrasting climate types.

Area of Science:

• Forest Ecology
• Climate Change Biology
• Biogeochemistry

Background:

• Non-native trees can alter forest carbon sink capacity, but large-scale patterns are poorly understood.
• Accurate data on native vs. non-native forest carbon dynamics are crucial for forest management decisions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify and compare carbon storage and sequestration in native and non-native forests across diverse climates.
• To identify the influence of forest origin, type, and environmental factors on forest carbon dynamics.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 17,065 plots from the Spanish Forest Inventory over ~30 years.
• Quantification of carbon storage and sequestration, controlling for forest structure, climate, soil, topography, and management.
• Comparison of native and non-native forests under wet and dry climate conditions.

Main Results:

• Forest origin significantly impacts carbon storage and sequestration, with effects varying by climate.
• Non-native forests showed greater carbon storage in both wet and dry climates.
• Non-native forests had higher sequestration in wet climates, while native forests showed greater gains and lower losses in dry climates.
• Forest type and origin (natural vs. plantation) were key determinants; Eucalyptus and Quercus spp. showed high carbon storage, while Pinus spp. showed low storage.

Conclusions:

• The relative carbon uptake and storage capacity of native vs. non-native forests are climate-dependent.
• The advantage of non-native forests in carbon sequestration decreases with increasing climate stress (e.g., water availability, seasonality).
• Forest management strategies should consider species origin, forest type, and local climate conditions for optimizing carbon sequestration.