498
J. A. Dar et al.
by other factors such as the loss of forest canopy cover, intense solar radiation, surface water run-off, etc. (Anderegg et al. 2012; Pravalie 2018). The influence of and
the interactions among the drivers may be synergistic or antagonistic (Zavaleta et al.
2003; de Vries et al. 2017), creating profound changes in ecosystem carbon fluxes.
Whatsoever be the hindering factor, the net result is mostly always a loss in biomass
and the release of carbon back into the atmosphere (Lewis et al. 2011; Hisano et al.
2018). The release of carbon that is stored in the vegetation and soil would in turn,
increase the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration and accelerate the pace of
global warming and climate change (Rinawati et al. 2013).
In order to mitigate carbon emissions by forests, four main steps were proposed:
(i) increasing the forested land area by means of reforestation, (ii) increasing the carbon density at both stand and landscape levels of existing forests by adopting proper
strategies such as maintaining reduced disturbances and lengthened harvest cycles
(iii) increasing the usage of forest products in a sustainable fashion to minimize the
emissions due to combustion of fossil fuels and (iv) reducing the emissions due to
deforestation and forest degradation (Canadell and Raupach 2008). Forest carbon
sequestration could also be enhanced by implementing several important measures
like reducing the forest conversion to other land-uses, adopting appropriate silvicultural practices that would enhance growth, preventing biomass loss due to natural
and anthropogenic processes, etc. (Sedjo 2001; Guo and Gong 2017). Therefore, it is
evident that carbon sequestration is an incredible regulatory ecosystemservice rendered by forests all over the world and adopting appropriate measures would enhance
their mitigation potential.
7 Carbon Storage and Climate Change Response
of Major Forest Biomes
Food and Agriculture Organization (2000) defines a forest as “a land with tree cover
(at least 5 m high) of at least 0.5 ha, and a canopy cover of more than 10%” (Pravalie
2018). The world’s forests span around 42 million square kilometers, which cover
around 30% of the Earth’s terrestrial surface (Bonan 2008; Keenan et al. 2015;
Pravalie 2018). The world’s forests are principally classified into three major biomes,
viz. tropical, temperate and boreal based on latitudinal location, climatic factors such
as temperature and precipitation and eco-physiology (Dixon et al. 1994; Woodward
et al. 2004; Lorenz and Lal 2010; Pan et al. 2013; Hui et al. 2017). Most of the
world’s forests are located in Asia (31%), followed by South America (21%), North
America (17%), Africa (17%), Europe (9%) and Oceania (5%) and together, they
hold about 861 Pg C, of which approximately 383 Pg C lie in soil, 363 Pg C in live
biomass, 73 Pg C in deadwood and 43 Pg C in litter (Pan et al. 2013). According to
Dixon et al. (1994), the world’s forests contain around 1150 Gt C, of which tropical
forests account for 37%, while temperate and boreal forests account for 14% and
49% respectively (Malhi et al. 1999). Climate change drastically influences the forest
J. A. Dar et al.
by other factors such as the loss of forest canopy cover, intense solar radiation, surface water run-off, etc. (Anderegg et al. 2012; Pravalie 2018). The influence of and
the interactions among the drivers may be synergistic or antagonistic (Zavaleta et al.
2003; de Vries et al. 2017), creating profound changes in ecosystem carbon fluxes.
Whatsoever be the hindering factor, the net result is mostly always a loss in biomass
and the release of carbon back into the atmosphere (Lewis et al. 2011; Hisano et al.
2018). The release of carbon that is stored in the vegetation and soil would in turn,
increase the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration and accelerate the pace of
global warming and climate change (Rinawati et al. 2013).
In order to mitigate carbon emissions by forests, four main steps were proposed:
(i) increasing the forested land area by means of reforestation, (ii) increasing the carbon density at both stand and landscape levels of existing forests by adopting proper
strategies such as maintaining reduced disturbances and lengthened harvest cycles
(iii) increasing the usage of forest products in a sustainable fashion to minimize the
emissions due to combustion of fossil fuels and (iv) reducing the emissions due to
deforestation and forest degradation (Canadell and Raupach 2008). Forest carbon
sequestration could also be enhanced by implementing several important measures
like reducing the forest conversion to other land-uses, adopting appropriate silvicultural practices that would enhance growth, preventing biomass loss due to natural
and anthropogenic processes, etc. (Sedjo 2001; Guo and Gong 2017). Therefore, it is
evident that carbon sequestration is an incredible regulatory ecosystemservice rendered by forests all over the world and adopting appropriate measures would enhance
their mitigation potential.
7 Carbon Storage and Climate Change Response
of Major Forest Biomes
Food and Agriculture Organization (2000) defines a forest as “a land with tree cover
(at least 5 m high) of at least 0.5 ha, and a canopy cover of more than 10%” (Pravalie
2018). The world’s forests span around 42 million square kilometers, which cover
around 30% of the Earth’s terrestrial surface (Bonan 2008; Keenan et al. 2015;
Pravalie 2018). The world’s forests are principally classified into three major biomes,
viz. tropical, temperate and boreal based on latitudinal location, climatic factors such
as temperature and precipitation and eco-physiology (Dixon et al. 1994; Woodward
et al. 2004; Lorenz and Lal 2010; Pan et al. 2013; Hui et al. 2017). Most of the
world’s forests are located in Asia (31%), followed by South America (21%), North
America (17%), Africa (17%), Europe (9%) and Oceania (5%) and together, they
hold about 861 Pg C, of which approximately 383 Pg C lie in soil, 363 Pg C in live
biomass, 73 Pg C in deadwood and 43 Pg C in litter (Pan et al. 2013). According to
Dixon et al. (1994), the world’s forests contain around 1150 Gt C, of which tropical
forests account for 37%, while temperate and boreal forests account for 14% and
49% respectively (Malhi et al. 1999). Climate change drastically influences the forest