GlobAllomeTree: international platform for tree allometric equations to support volume, biomass and carbon assessment

Henry, Matieu; Bombelli, Antonio; Trotta, Carlo; Alessandrini, Alfredo; Birigazzi, Luca; Sola, Gaël; Vieilledent, Ghislain; Santenoise, Philippe; Longuetaud, Fleur; Валентини, Р.; Picard, Nicolas; Saint‐André, Laurent

doi:10.3832/ifor0901-006

Cited by 137 publications

(100 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…According to the principle of allometry, a tree allometric equation relates biomass, volume, or several tree components to stem diameter at breast height (DBH), tree height, and/or other dendrometric variables (Henry et al 2013).…”

Section: Allometric Equations and Carbon Storagementioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing urban tree carbon storage and sequestration in Bolzano, Italy

Russo

Escobedo

Timilsina

et al. 2014

International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Servic

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Recent climate change, environmental design, and ecological conservation policies require new and existing urban developments to mitigate and offset carbon dioxide emissions and for cities to become carbon neutral. Some North American models and tools are available and can be used to quantify the carbon offset function of urban trees. But, little information on urban tree carbon storage and sequestration exists from the European Southern Alps. Also, the use of these North American models in Europe has never been assessed. This study developed a protocol to quantify aboveground carbon (C) storage and sequestration using a subsample of urban trees in Bolzano, Italy, and assessed two existing and available C estimation models. Carbon storage and sequestration were estimated using city-specific dendrometrics and allometric biomass equations primarily from Europe and two other United States models; the UFORE (Urban Forest Effects Model) and the CUFR Tree Carbon Calculator (CTCC). The UFORE model carbon storage estimates were the lowest while the CUFR Tree Carbon Calculator (CTCC) C sequestration estimates were the highest. Results from this study can be used to plan, design, and manage urban forests in northern Italy to maximize C offset potential, provide ecosystem services, and for developing carbon neutral policies. Findings can also be used to predict greenhouse gas emissions from tree maintenance operations as well as estimating green waste yield from landscape maintenance activities and its use as biofuel and compost. Managers need to be aware that available models and methods can produce statistically different C storage and sequestration estimates.Keywords: i-Tree Eco; growth rates; allometric equations; ecosystem services; CTCC model Introduction Climate change is one of the most important and pressing environmental, economic, and security issues our world faces today (Barnett 2003;IPCC 2007;Karagiannis & Soldatos 2010). Urban areas are steadily growing throughout the world (Grimm et al. 2008) and by 2030 it is expected that 60% of the world's population will be living in cities (Rydin et al. 2012). Thus, as urban environments become more important as living space for humans, they are an increasing source of carbon emissions.Several studies in North America, China, and Australia (Brack 2002;Zhao et al. 2010;Dobbs et al. 2011;Martin et al. 2012;Roy et al. 2012), and more recently in the United Kingdom and Germany (Davies et al. 2011;Strohbach & Haase 2012;Strohbach et al. 2012), have shown that trees in urban environments remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through growth and photosynthesis, and store excess carbon as biomass in roots, stems, and branches. Indirectly, urban trees also reduce building energy used for cooling through their shade and climate amelioration effects, thereby reducing CO 2 emissions from decreased energy production (Akbari et al. 2001).The estimation of tree carbon sequestration depends on species types and their mortality and growth characteristics as well as their overall con...

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Section: Allometric Equations and Carbon Storagementioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing urban tree carbon storage and sequestration in Bolzano, Italy

Russo

Escobedo

Timilsina

et al. 2014

International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Servic

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“…This fact is particularly vexing in Italy, where the maquis ecosystem is one of the most represented forest categories (3.34% of the national surface and 8.05% of forested area, with more than 1 million ha), denoting a critical issue in the context of the carbon credits market (Alisciani et al 2011). In addition, the available AGB data are also characterized by a wide range of variability and uncertainty; this has been demonstrated by recent efforts to harmonize, at international level, the allometric equations available for supporting volume and biomass assessment in tree/forestry systems (Somogyi et al 2008, Henry et al 2013.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Methods for biomass stock estimation in Mediterranean maquis systems

Sîrca¹,

Caddeo²,

Spano³

et al. 2017

iForest

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As a result of Kyoto Protocol agreements, the scientific community increased its efforts to enhance the availability of biomass and organic carbon stock data in forest ecosystems. Nevertheless, a considerable data shortage has been recognized in estimating the stock of above-ground biomass (AGB) in Mediterranean maquis systems. This work aims at contributing in addressing such shortage by testing quick and non-disruptive methods to estimate the AGB stock in maquis species. Two methodologies were tested in three widespread sclerophyllous evergreen species (Pistacia lentiscus, Euphorbia dendroides, and Cystus monspeliensis). Both methodologies were based on the estimation of the apparent volume (AV): the first one assumed the shrub shape (or canopy) to be similar to a regular tridimensional solid, while the second method was based on plant digital images analysis. Results showed some differences in AV values estimated through the two methodologies, although a high correlation was found between them (R 2 = 0.92-0.98) and with the AGB weight obtained from plant samples (R 2 = 0.89-0.96). As a consequence, the shrubs apparent density values (i.e., weight/AV) vary depending on the method used for AV estimation. This should be taken into account when AV is used for AGB estimation. Besides, measurements of above-ground biomass were carried out to characterize the studied area. Results showed high variability in AGB values, ranging from 7.04 to 48.05 Mg ha -1 of dry matter.

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“…Tree allometric equations are critical tools for such purpose and have the potential to improve our understanding about carbon sequestration in woody vegetation, to support the implementation of policies and mechanisms designed to mitigate climate change (e.g. CDM and REDD+; Agrawal et al 2011), to calculate costs and benefits associated with forest carbon projects, and to improve bioenergy systems and sustainable forest management (Henry et al 2013). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The GlobAllomeTree platform (http://www.globallometree.org/; Henry et al 2013) is a first step towards this goal but also has raised the issue of the lack of consistency in how allometric equations and their associated metadata are reported. A large number of the publications reviewed for inclusion into GlobAllomeTree did not comply with basic IPCC "good practice" guidelines (IPCC 2003) in terms of completeness, documentation, transparency, or comparability.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%