A new circa 2007 biomass map for China differs significantly from existing maps

Area of Science:

• Forestry science
• Remote sensing
• Carbon cycle research

Background:

• China's forest area is expanding, ranking fifth globally.
• Estimates of forest carbon storage in China vary significantly (3.92–17.02 Pg C).
• Uncertainty in carbon storage hinders understanding of China's forest contribution to the global carbon cycle.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a high-resolution aboveground biomass (AGB) map for China circa 2007.
• To accurately estimate the total carbon stored in China's forests.
• To improve understanding of forest carbon dynamics in China.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a fusion of optical, radar, and LiDAR satellite data.
• Generated a circa 2007 aboveground biomass (AGB) map at 50m resolution.
• Validated the AGB map against forest inventory plots.

Main Results:

• Estimated total forest carbon storage in China at 9.52 Pg C.
• Calculated an average forest AGB of 104 Mg ha⁻¹.
• The generated AGB map demonstrated superior correlation with inventory data compared to existing maps.

Conclusions:

• The high-resolution AGB map provides a more accurate spatial distribution of forest carbon.
• This detailed map is crucial for understanding carbon storage changes in China's forests.
• The findings contribute to a clearer picture of China's role in the global carbon cycle.