Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Carbon Sequestration in Temperate Forests

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Recarbonization of the Biosphere

Abstract

Temperate forests, located between 25 and 55° N and S of equator, are highly diverse in species, soils, and the ecosystems’ carbon (C) pool. Their composition and characteristics change among regions. Principal forest types are broad-leaved deciduous, broad-leaved evergreen, coniferous, and mixed. Temperate forests are primarily located in North America, Central and Western Europe, north-eastern Asia, southern Chile, New Zealand and the Mediterranean. Principal soils of the temperate forests are Alfisols, Inceptisols, Mollisols, Spodosols, and Ultisols. These are generally fertile soils with high soil organic C (SOC) pool. Typical temperate forest soils contain about 100 Mg C ha−1 in the soil profile, and often more. Total ecosystem C pool in biomes and soils of temperate forest is equivalent to, and sometimes even more, than that of the tropical rainforest ecosystems. The projected change in climate may shift the temperate forest biome polewards, alter species composition, and change the ecosystem C pool. With favorable climate characterized by four distinct seasons and relatively fertile soils, the temperate forest biomes have a high C sink capacity. Thus, sustainable forest management, planting and rehabilitation can contribute to recarbonize the biome previously disturbed by deforestation, degradation and poor forest management, and create draw down in the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2). Fast growing temperate trees can accumulate about 20 Mg of wood ha−1 year−1. The strategy is also to preserve the old-growth forests, and establish new forests on degraded lands and agriculturally marginal soils through afforestation and reforestation. In addition to biomass, C can also be sequestered in soils. The rate of soil C sequestration is lower than that in the biomass, and depends on soil type, antecedent pool, species and other natural and marginal factors. While trading C credits can promote adoption of an appropriate forest land use and management to enhance C sequestration, how to account for changes in forest C pools (soil and biota) remains a contentious issue. Additional research is needed in understanding processes and practices to sequester C in soils and vegetation of temperate forests, and to develop methods of measurement, monitoring and verification of C pool and changes over short periods of 2–5 years.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Abbreviations

Ra :

autotrophic respiration

C:

carbon

CO2 :

carbon dioxide

FACE:

Free Air Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Enrichment

GCC:

global carbon cycle

GHGs:

greenhouse gases

HAC:

high activity clays

LAC:

low activity clays

MRT:

mean residence time

NBP:

net biome productivity

NEP:

net ecosystem production

NPP:

net primary production

SOC:

soil organic C

SOM:

soil organic matter content

References

  • Anderson RG, Canadell JG, Randerson JT et al (2011) Biophysical considerations in forestry for climate protection. Front Ecol Environ 9:174–182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andersson FO, Ågren GI, Führer E (2000) Sustainable tree biomass production. For Ecol Manage 132:51–62

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bahn M, Reichstein M, Davidson EA et al (2010) Soil respiration at mean annual temperature predicts annual total across vegetation types and biomes. Biogeosciences 7:1247–1257

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barford CC, Wofsy SC, Goulden ML et al (2001) Factors controlling long and short-term sequestration of atmospheric CO2 in a mid-latitude forest. Science 294:1688–1690

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Batjes NH (2010) A global framework of soil organic carbon stocks under native vegetation for use with the simple assessment option of the carbon benefits project system. Report 2010-10. ISRIC, Wageningen, Holland

    Google Scholar 

  • Batjes NH (2011) Soil organic carbon stocks under native vegetation-revised estimates for use with the simple assessment option of the carbon benefits project system. Agric Ecosyst Environ 142:365–373

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beniston M, Tol RSJ (1998) Europe. In: Watson RT, Zinyowers MC, Moss RH (eds) Regional impacts of climate change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Birdsey RA, Lewis GM (2003) Carbon in U.S. Forests and wood products, 1987–1997: state by state estimates. USDA-F.S., Newton Square

    Google Scholar 

  • Borken W, Davidson E, Savage K et al (2003) Drying and wetting effects on carbon dioxide release from organic horizons. Soil Sci Am J 67:1888–1896

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bormann B, Homann P, Darbyshire R et al (2008) Intense forest wildfire sharply reduces mineral soil C and N: the first direct evidence. Can J For Res 38:2771–2783

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brady N, Weil R (2002) Nature and properties of soil. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River

    Google Scholar 

  • Broecker WS, Takahashi T, Simpson HH et al (1979) Fate of fossil fuel carbon dioxide and the global measures. Science 206:409–418

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Canadell JG, Raupach MR (2008) Managing forests for climate change mitigation. Science 320:1456–1457

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carnell R (ed) (2010) The role of forests in carbon capture and climate change. Nova, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Ciais P, Canadell J, Luyssaert S et al (2010) Can we reconcile atmospheric estimates of the Northern terrestrial carbon sink with land-based accounting? Curr Opin Environ Sustain 2:225–230

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ciccarese L, Brown S, Schlamadinger B (2005) Carbon sequestration through restoration of temperate and boreal forests. In: Stanturf JA, Madsen P (eds) Restoration of boreal and temperate forests. CRC Press, Boca Raton

    Google Scholar 

  • Davidson E, Hirsch A (2001) Fertile forest experiments. Science 411:431–433

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dixon RK, Brown S, Houghton RA et al (1994) Carbon pools and flux of global forest ecosystems. Science 263:185–190

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eswaran H, van den Berg RP (1993) Organic carbon in soils of the world. SSSA J 57:192–194

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO (1988) FAO-UNESCO soil map of the world, revised legend with correction and updates. Technical paper 20. FAO and ISRIC, Wageningen, Holland

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO-UNESCO (1974) Soil map of the world. 1:5,000,000, vol 1 – legend. United Nations Educational, Scientifics and Cultural Organization, Paris, France

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedlingstein P, Dufresne J, Cox P et al (2003) How positive is the feedback between climate changes and the carbon cycle? Tellus 55B:692–700

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gorte RW, Johnson R (2010) Measuring and monitoring carbon in the agricultural and forestry sectors. In: Carnell R (ed) The role of forest in carbon capture and climate change. Nova, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Gorte RW, Ramseur JL (2010) Forests carbon markets: potential and drawbacks. In: Carnell R (ed) The role of forest in carbon capture and climate change. Nova, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Gough CM, Vogel CS, Schmid HP, Curtis PS (2008) Controls on annual forest carbon storage: lessons from the past and predictions for the future. Bioscience 58:609–622

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gower ST, Landsberg JJ, Bisbee RL (2003) Forest biomes of the world. In: Young RA, Giese RL (eds) Forest ecosystem science and management. Wiley, Hoboken

    Google Scholar 

  • Grabherr G, Gottfried M, Pauli H (1994) Climate effects on mountain plants. Nature 369:448

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heath S, Kimble JM, Binsey RA et al (2003) The potential of U.S. forest soils to sequester carbon. In: Kimble JM, Heath LS, Birdsey RA et al (eds) The potential of U.S. forest soils to sequester carbon and mitigate the greenhouse effect. Lewis Publishers, Boca Ratan

    Google Scholar 

  • Houghton RA (1993) Is carbon accumulating in the northern temperate zone? Glob Biogeochem Cycles 7(3):611–617

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Houghton RA, Hall F, Goetz SJ (2009) Importance of biomass in the global carbon cycle. J Geophys Res 114. http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2009JG000935

  • House J, Prentice I, Ramankutty N et al (2003) Reconciling apparent inconsistencies in estimates of terrestrial CO2 sources and sinks. Tellus 55B:345–363

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huston MA, Wolverton S (2009) The global distribution of net primary production: resolving the paradox. Ecol Appl 79:343–377

    Google Scholar 

  • Janssens IA, Dieleman W, Luyssaert A et al (2010) Reduction of forest soil respiration in response to nitrogen deposition. Nat Geosci 3:315–322

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jenny H (1941) Factors of soil formation: a system of quantified pedology. McGraw-Hill, New York (reprinted in 1994)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jobbagy E, Jackson R (2000) The vertical distribution of soil organic carbon and its relation to climate and vegetation. Ecol Appl 10:423–436

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson MG, Kern JS (2003) Quantifying the organic carbon held in forested soils of the U.S. and Puerto Rico. In: Kimble JM, Heath LS, Bindsey Ra et al (eds) The potential of U.S. forests soils to sequester carbon and mitigate the greenhouse effect. Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton

    Google Scholar 

  • Keith H, Mackey B, Lindenmayer D (2009) Re-evaluation of forest biomass carbon stocks and lessons from the world’s most carbon-dense forests. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 106:11635–11640

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Körner C (2006) Plant CO2 responses: an issue of definition, time and resource supply. New Phytol 172:393–411

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lorenz K, Lal R (2010) Carbon sequestration in forest ecosystems. Springer, Dordrecht

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Luyssaert S, Inglima I, Jungs M et al (2007) CO2 balance of boreal, temperate, and tropical forests derived from a global database. Global Change Biol 13:2509–2537. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2486.2007.01439.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Magnani F, Dewar RC, Borghetti M (2009) Leakage and spillover effects of forest management on carbon storage: theoretical insights from a simple model. Tellus 61B:385–393

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martin PH, Nabuurs GJ, Aubinet M et al (2001) Carbon sinks in temperate forests. Annu Rev Energy Environ 26:435–465

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mayer A, Khalyani A (2011) Grass trumps trees with fire. Science 334:188–189

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Menzel A, Fabian P (1999) Growing season extended in Europe. Nature 397:659

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Norby RJ, Zak DR (2011) Ecological lessons from free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) experiments. Annu Rev Ecol Evol Syst 42:181–203

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pacala S, Hurtt G, Baker D et al (2001) Consistent land- and atmosphere-based U.S. carbon sink estimates. Science 292:2316–2320

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pan Y, Birdsey R, Fang J et al (2011) A large and persistent carbon sink in the world’s forests. Science 333:988–993

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Powlson DS, Whitmore AP, Goulding KWT (2011) Soil carbon sequestration to mitigate climate change: a critical re-examination to identify the true and the false. Eur J Soil Sci 62:42–55

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Prescott C (2010) Litter decomposition: what controls it and how can we alter it to sequester more carbon in forest soils? Biogeochemistry 101:133–149

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rasse D, Longdoz B, Ceulemans R (2001) TRAP: a modelling approach to below-ground carbon allocation in temperate forests. Plant Soil 229:281–293

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rautiainen A, Wernick I, Waggoner PE et al (2011) A national and international analysis of changing forest density. PLoS One 6(5):e19577. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0019577

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sarmiento J, Gloor M, Gruber N et al (2010) Trends and regional distributions of land and ocean carbon sinks. Biogeosciences 7:2351–2367

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schlesigner WH (2000) Carbon sequestration in soils: some cautions amidst optimism. Agric Ecosyst Environ 82:121–127

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt MWI, Torn MS, Abiven S et al (2011) Persistence of soil organic matter as an ecosystem property. Nature 478:49–56

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schmitt A, Glaser B (2011) Organic matter dynamics in a temperate forest soil following enhanced drying. Soil Biol Biochem 43:478–489

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stallard RF (1998) Terrestrial sedimentation and the carbon cycle: coupling weathering and erosion to carbon burial. Global Biogeochem Cycles 12:231–257. doi:10.1029/98GB00741

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Staver AC, Archibald S, Levin SA (2011) The global extent and determinants of savanna and forest as alternative biome states. Science 334:230–232

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Streck C, Scholz S (2006) The role of forests in global climate change: whence we come and where we go. Int Affairs 82:861–879

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Study of Critical Environmental Problems (1970) Man’s impact on the global environment: assessment and recommendations for action. In study of critical environmental problems. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA

    Google Scholar 

  • Study of Critical Environmental Problems (1971) Inadvertent climate modification, report. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA

    Google Scholar 

  • Tans PP, Fung IY, Takahashi T (1990) Observational constraints on the global atmospheric CO2 budget. Science 247:1431–1438

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Teneva L, Gonzalez-Meler M (2008) Decomposition kinetics of soil carbon of different age from a forest exposed to 8 years of elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration. Soil Biol Biochem 40:2670–2677

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • UNEP (1992) The impacts of climate change on agriculture. Fact sheet 101, information unit on Climate change. Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland

    Google Scholar 

  • van Hees P, Jones D, Finlay R et al (2005) The carbon we do not see – the impact of low molecular weight compounds on carbon dynamics and respiration in forest soils: a review. Soil Biol Biochem 37:1–13

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Wambeke A (1992) Soils of the tropics. McGraw Hill, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • von Lützow M, Kögel-Knabner I, Ekschmitt K et al (2006) Stabilization of organic matter in temperate soils: mechanisms and their relevance under different soil conditions – a review. Eur J Soil Sci 57:426–445

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woodwell FM, Pecan EV (eds) (1973) Carbon and the biosphere. In: Proceedings of symposium, symposium series 30. Brookhaven National lab. Upton, NY, May 1972. US Atomic Energy Comm CONF-720510, 400 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Zheng J, Han S, Zhou Y et al (2010) Microbial activity in a temperate forest soil as affected by elevated atmospheric CO(2). Pedosphere 20:427–435

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Carbon Management and Sequestration Center, The Ohio State University, 2021 Coffey Road, Kottmann Hall 422b, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA

    Rattan Lal

  2. Global Soil Forum, IASS Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies e.V., Berliner Strasse 130, 14467, Potsdam, Germany

    K. Lorenz

Authors
  1. Rattan Lal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. K. Lorenz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rattan Lal .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. OARDC, Carbon Management &, Ohio State University, Coffey Road 2021, Columbus, 43210, Ohio, USA

    Rattan Lal

  2. , Global Contract for Sustainability, IASS Inst. for Adv. Sust. Studies, Berliner Str. 130, Potsdam, 14467, Brandenburg, Germany

    Klaus Lorenz

  3. , Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum GFZ, Helmholtz-Zentrum Potsdam, Telegrafenberg, Potsdam, 14473, Germany

    Reinhard F. Hüttl

  4. , Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum GFZ, Helmholtz-Zentrum Potsdam, Telegrafenberg 309G, Potsdam, 14473, Brandenburg, Germany

    Bernd Uwe Schneider

  5. Walter-Flex-Str. 3, Bonn, 53113, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

    Joachim von Braun

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Lal, R., Lorenz, K. (2012). Carbon Sequestration in Temperate Forests. In: Lal, R., Lorenz, K., Hüttl, R., Schneider, B., von Braun, J. (eds) Recarbonization of the Biosphere. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4159-1_9

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation