Carbon Stocks and Sequestration
Governing the Global Commons: Linking Carbon Sequestration and Biodiversity Conservation in Tropical ForestsBackgroundClimate change and biodiversity loss are two of the most pressing global environmental challenges, yet they are often addressed through separate international frameworks. Scientific evidence shows that these issues are interconnected, especially in tropical forests. Despite this overlap, carbon finance mechanisms like the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) have historically excluded efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation (REDD), focusing instead on afforestation and reforestation. This article explores the potential for aligning carbon sequestration goals with biodiversity conservation through incentive-based mechanisms, with particular emphasis on tropical forests. Open access copy available |
Carbon Costs and Bushmeat Benefits of Hunting in Tropical ForestsBackgroundOverhunting is a widespread issue in tropical forests, leading to the depletion of frugivorous animals that play a crucial role in seed dispersal. The loss of these animals can shift tree species composition, ultimately reducing forest carbon storage. While hunting provides an essential source of protein and income for local communities, its long-term effects on carbon stocks remain underexplored. This study evaluates the trade-offs between the economic benefits of bushmeat hunting and the potential carbon costs due to defaunation-induced biomass loss. Understanding these dynamics is critical for integrating hunting management into climate change mitigation strategies such as REDD+. Open access copy available |
Defaunation of Large-Bodied Frugivores Reduces Carbon Storage in a Tropical Forest of Southeast AsiaBackgroundTropical forests are vital for carbon storage, but recent studies suggest that defaunation—the loss of large-bodied seed dispersers due to hunting and habitat fragmentation—can significantly impact this function. While previous research has shown reductions in above-ground carbon storage due to defaunation in South America and Africa, its effects on Southeast Asian forests remain debated. Some scientists argue that the dominance of wind-dispersed Dipterocarpaceae trees in the region buffers against carbon losses from defaunation. This study examines the extent to which defaunation influences carbon storage in a tropical forest in Thailand, where large frugivores such as primates, hornbills, and terrestrial mammals still persist. Available with subscription or purchase |
Defaunation affects carbon storage in tropical forestsBackgroundTropical forests play a critical role in global carbon storage, holding approximately 40% of the Earth's terrestrial carbon. While deforestation, logging, and climate change are well-documented threats to these forests, the impact of defaunation (the loss of large frugivorous animals due to hunting and habitat loss) has been largely overlooked. Many large-seeded hardwood trees rely on large vertebrates for seed dispersal, and their decline could significantly affect forest composition and carbon storage. Open access copy available |
The social and ecological costs of reforestation. Territorialization and industrialization of land use accompany forest transitions in Southeast AsiaBackgroundOpen access copy available |
The Effect of Carbon Credits on Savanna Land Management and Priorities for Biodiversity ConservationBACKGROUND:Investing in habitat protection and sustainable management is crucial to curb the rapid decline in biodiversity. A carbon market offers financial incentives to modify land use or management practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, the effects of such market-based conservation strategies in ecosystems like tropical savannas are still largely unexplored. The paper highlights the potential of emerging carbon markets as a means to fund improved land management practices that could benefit both biodiversity and carbon sequestration. Open access copy available |
Carbon sequestration in Africa: The land tenure problemBackgroundResearch on afforestation and reforestation projects highlights how tropical forests can store carbon on a large scale. Africa offers vast areas of suitable land for carbon sequestration through these initiatives. However, the author argues that land tenure issues in Africa create an obstacle to achieving this potential. Open access copy available |
Editorial: Mangroves in the Anthropocene: From local change to global challengeBackgroundOpen access copy available |
Leveraging the blue economy to transform marine forest restorationBackgroundOpen access copy available |
Understanding the importance of primary tropical forest protection as a mitigation strategyBackground:Primary tropical forests play a key role in the urgent task of mitigating climate change. Nevertheless, despite the recognition of forest-based mitigation strategies, the role of primary forest protection has not been explicitly considered in international policy negotiations. The authors aim to address this deficit by estimating primary tropical forest ecosystem carbon stocks and flows. Open access copy available |
