Carbon sequestration by forests in the National Parks of Italy
Author(s)
Date Issued
2012
Type
article
Abstract
Recent attempts to mitigate global change have brought forestry-based carbon (C) sequestration into sharp focus due to its
potential to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere. However, the consequences of actual forest management practices on C
storage capacity are still controversial to a certain extent. Under such a perspective, a distinctive relevant issue concerns the
management of forest ecosystems within areas specifically designated for nature conservation. From the analysis of biomass
data from forests in the National Parks of Italy, we found that the average forest C stock and sink per unit area is relatively
higher within National Parks (81.21 and 2.18 tons ha71, respectively) than on the overall national territory (76.11 and 1.12
tons ha71 year71, respectively). The analysis confirms the influence of ecological conditions and management approach on
C sequestration capacity. Although the results of the proposed assessment approach have to be considered as rough
estimates, the trial proves interesting, given the relative lack of specific information, at least on a large scale, about C stocks
and sinks within forest areas designated for nature conservation, and the direct comparison with those forest areas not
designated to such an end. The C storage capacity can be enhanced by increasing the productivity of forests, minimizing the
disturbance to stand structure and composition. Extending conservation strategies adopted in National Parks to other forest
areas of the national territory would allow the restoration of C sequestration potential, where unsustainable management
practices have degraded relatively large stocks of biomass.
Additional information
L'articolo รจ disponibile sul sito dell'editore www.tandfonline.com
Citation
Marchetti, M. et al. 2012. Carbon sequestration by forests in the National Parks of Italy. "Plant Biosystems" 146(4): 1001-1011
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