The Research On Carbon Storage And Its Potential In The Future Of Cunninghamia Lanceolata In Hunan Province

Cunninghamia lanceolata is one of the largest planted tree in southen China and plays a very important role in contributing to carbon storage on reginal scale.The forest inventory data in2009shows that the area of Cunninghamia lanceolata has reached1.13×107hm2, stock volume is7.34×108m3. Not only play an important role of economic development to meet our demand for wood, but also in the carbon sequestration, soil and water conservation and other ecosystem services. The current study shows our plantation forest carbon sequestration is the main way of carbon storage. First, we can increase forest carbon storage through afforestation. On the other hand we can also improve the forest management and the management level to increase forest carbon storage. Therefore, estimate Cunninghamia lanceolata forest carbon storage in the regional scale and analysis its carbon storage play an important role.Tree biomass data published in literature were derived to generate allometric equations for5age classes of Cunninghamia lanceolata (Chinese fir) and then the equations were used to estimate stand biomass and carbon storage of5age classes. Based on stand area of5age classes recorded from forest inventory data in2004and2009, total carbon storage of C. lanceolata forests was determined for Hunan Province and its14subordinated prefectural cities. At the same time, we also selected the data in literature as baseline for the stand biomass at different age of C. lanceolata forests under appropriate management. The current status of stand area distribution of5age classes was analyzed for C. lanceolata forests in Hunan and normal forest rule was applied to adjust forest area to achieve an ideal stand area distribution. The results show that:1.The carbon storage of Cunninghamia lanceolata for5age classes in Hunan are5.94t/hm2of young growth,22.83t/hm2of half-mature forest,38.45t/hm2of nearly mature forest,37.66t/hm2of mature forest and147.25t/hm2of over mature forest. The carbon storage of mature forest was significantly higher than other age groups.2. The total carbon storage of C. lanceolata forests is48.31×106t in2004,the data of young growth is2.95×106t, the half-mature forest is18.12×106t, the nearly mature forest is12.99×106t,the mature forest is8.47×106t and the over-mature forest is5.79×106t. The carbon storage of Huaihua is biggest among the cities in Hunan. The total carbon storage of C. lanceolata forests is52.16×106t in2009, which is3.85×106t more than that in2004.The reason is the area of the mature forest and the over-mature forest increased. The carbon storage of young growth is1.94×106t, the half-mature forest is12.49×106t,3. If appropriate forest management was implemented, total carbon storage of C. lanceolata forests in Hunan would increase to103.83×106t, which was about two times of the value in2009. The carbon storage of all the age classes had increased except over mature forest. The young growth has increased to6.78×106t, the half-mature forest is18.12×106t, the nearly mature forest is25.82×106t, the nearly mature forest is13.04×106t,the mature forest is30.15×106t and the over-mature forest is11.89×106t.4. After stand area adjustment for age classes, total carbon storage C. lanceolata forests in Hunan would go up to81.10×106t (about1.5times of the values in2009), with ranging from1.91×106t for young forests to47.37x106t for over mature forests. Therefore, C. lanceolata forests in Hunan have a great potential to increase carbon sequestration in future if sustainable forest management is carried out. Our findings provide useful information for C. lanceolata forest management and ecosystem functions division in Hunan Province.Therefore, C. lanceolata forests in Hunan have a great potential to increase carbon sequestration in future if sustainable forest management is carried out. Our findings provide useful information for C. lanceolata forest management and ecosystem functions division in Hunan Province.