Pinus wallichiana

Elevation, aspect, and climate shape blue pine (Pinus wallichiana) biomass and carbon dynamics in the Bhutanese Himalayas

Background

Forests cover over two-thirds of Bhutan and are constitutionally protected, enabling national carbon neutrality. Yet, climate change, increasing temperatures, variable precipitation, and heightened wildfire risk threaten carbon storage capacity and species distributions. Blue pine is a fast-growing, socio-economically important species dominating inner dry valleys between roughly 2200–3000 m, making it an ideal model to understand how elevation and slope aspect regulate biomass accumulation and carbon sequestration under changing climate conditions.