The first pilot carbon polygon in the Kaluga region: methodology and experiment for assessing the stocks and carbon sequestration in forest biomass

The studies to improve and verify methods for quantifying forest carbon stocks, sequestration and emissions have been carried out at the first Carbon Test Site in the Kaluga region. The study aims to develop the methods and algorithms for the estimating the carbon revenues and losses in the forest biomass due to natural stand growth. The experimental part of the study includes the testing calculations for the current period and projection, in the future, for 20 years. The object of experimental work with a total area of 4134 hectares is a part of the Belyaev forest management unit of the National Park «Ugra» in the Kaluga region. Experimental calculations were based on the forest inventory performed by the visual measurement method for the first class of inventory in 2021. An algorithm has been developed to calculate the net growth (stock increment) and mortality based on the field inventory data of tree stands and tables and models of growth and productivity of forests for the current year and the projection for 20 years. The net growth and annual mortality have been converted into annual carbon sequestration in the phytomass and annual carbon storage in the wood detritus. A comparison of the current value and projections of carbon sequestration in the phytomass shows a decrease of 37 per cent in total and average for 20-year due to a decrease in the growth of the mature stands, increased mortality due to loss of trees and disintegration of stands in the transition from the mature to the over-mature stands. Carbon stocks will be redistributed between phytomass and dead organic matter pools due to the natural growth of the stands not disturbed by external influences over the projection period. The projection of annual carbon accumulation in the dead organic matter (detritus pool) with tables and models of growth and productivity for over-mature stands underestimates it. General and regional tables of growth and mortality of stands for major forest forming species need to be improved to quantify the forest carbon.

1. IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories 2007, vol 4. URL: http://www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp/public/2006gl/russian/vol4.html (In Russ.)

2. Filipchuk A.N., Malysheva N.V., Moiseev B.N. & Strakhov, V.V. Analytical overview of methodologies calculating missions and absorption of greenhouse gases by forests from the atmosphere. Lesokhozyaistvennaya informatsiya [Forestry Information], 2016, no. 3, pp. 36–85. (In Russ.)

3. Kurganova I.N., Lopes de Gerenyu V.O., Ipp S.L., Kaganov V.V., Khoroshaev D.A., Rukhovich D.I., Sumin Yu.V., Durmanov N.D. & Kuzyakov Ya.V. Pilot carbon polygon in Russia: analysis of carbon stocks in soils and vegetation. Pochvy i okruzhayushchaya sreda [The Journal of Soils and Environment], 2022, 5(2), e169. DOI: 10.31251/pos.v5i2.169 (In Russ.)

4. Metodika ucheta pogloshcheniya CO2 v lesah Rossijskoj Federacii [Procedure for Estimating CO2 Removals in the Forests of the Russian Federation] Pushkino: VNIILM, 2017. 82 p. (In Russ.)

5. Mokany K., Raison R.J., Prokushkin A. S. Critical analysis of Root : Shoot ratios in terrestrial biomes. Glob.Chang. Biol., 2006, 12: 84–96. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2486.2005.001043.x.

6. Monitoring of greenhouse gas fluxes in natural ecosystems. ed. by D.G. Zamolodchikov, D.V. Karelin, M.L. Gitarsky, V.G. Blinov. Saratov: Amirit, 2017. 279 p. (In Russ.)

7. Schepaschenko D. Moltchanova Е., Shvidenko А., Blyshchyk V., Dmitriev, Е., Martynenko, О., See L. & Kraxner F. Improved Estimates of Biomass Expansion Factors for Russian Forests. Forests. 2018, 9: 312. DOI: 10.3390/f9060312

8. Shvidenko A.Z. & Shchepashchenko D.G. Carbon budget of Russian forests. Sibirskiy Lesnoy Zhurnal [Siberian Journal of Forest Science], 2014, 1, pp. 69–92. (In Russ.)

9. Shvidenko A.Z., Shchepashchenko D.G. Nilsson S. Assessment of wood detritus stocks in Russian forests Lesnaya taksaciya i lesoustrojstvo [Forest inventory and management], 2009, no. 1(41), pp. 133–147. (In Russ.)

10. Tables and models of growth and productivity of forests of major forest forming species of Northern Eurasia (standard and reference materials). A.Z. Shvidenko, D.G. Shchepaschenko, S. Nilsson, Yu.I. Buluy. M.: Federal Forestry Agency, IIASA, 2008. 886 p. URL: https://bookree.org/reader?file=826764&pg=3 (In Russ.)

11. Vaganov E.A., Vedrova E.F., Verhovets S.V., Efremov S.P., Efremova T.T., Kruglov V.B., Onuchin A.A., Sukhinin A. I., Shibistova O.B. Siberian forests and swamps in the global carbon cycle. Sibirskij ekologicheskij zhurnal [Siberian Ecological Journal], 2005, no. 4, pp. 631–649. (In Russ.)

12. Vaganov E.A., Porfiryev B.N., Shirov A.A., Kolpakov A.Yu., Pyzhev A.I. Assessment of the Contribution of Russian Forests to Climate Change Mitigation. Ekonomika regiona [Economy of regions], 2021, no. 17(4), pp. 1096–1109. URL: https://doi.org/10.17059/ekon.reg.2021–4-4 (In Russ.)

13. Vedrova, E.F. Biogenic carbon fluxes in boreal forests of Central Siberia. Izvestiya RAN:seriya biologicheskaya [Bulletin of the Russian Academy of Sciences: biological series], 2011, no. 1, pp. 77–89. (In Russ.)

14. Zamolodchikov, D.G., Grabovskii, V.I. & Kraev G.N. A twenty year retrospective on the forest carbon dynamics in Russia. Lesovedenie [Russian Journal of Forest Science], 2011, no. 6, pp. 16–28. (In Russ.)

15. Zamolodchikov D.G., Utkin A.I. & Chestnykh O.V. Conversion factors of stand volumes to phytomass for the main forest-forming species of Russia. Lesnaya taksaciya i lesoustrojstvo [Forest inventory and management], 2003, no. 1(32), pp. 119–127. (In Russ.)