Integrated and comprehensive estimation of greenhouse gas emissions from land systems

Abstract

Exchanges of carbon and nitrogen between the atmosphere and terrestrial ecosystems involve a complex set of interactions affected by both natural and management processes. Understanding these processes is important for managing ecosystem productivity and sustainability. Management processes also affect the net outcome of exchanges of greenhouse gases between terrestrial ecosystems and the atmosphere. In developing a national carbon accounting system (NCAS) for Australia to account for emissions and removal of greenhouse gases to and from the atmosphere, a carbon:nitrogen mass balance ecosystem model (FullCAM) was developed. The FullCAM model is a hybrid of empirical and process modelling. The approach enables application to a wide range of natural resource management issues, because it is at land-management-relevant spatial and temporal resolution and captures the main process and management drivers. The scenario-prediction capability can be used to determine the emissions consequences of different management activities. Because, in Australia, emissions of greenhouse gases are closely related to the retention of dead organic matter and the availability of nitrogen for plant growth, the carbon and nitrogen cycling as modelled are good indicators of ecosystem productivity and condition. The NCAS also emphasizes the advantages of a comprehensive and integrated approach to developing a continental scale ecosystem-modelling system that has relevance both to estimation of greenhouse gas emissions and sustainable management of natural resources.

A generalised hybrid process-empirical model for predicting plantation forest growth

“…For example, Brack et al (2006) found good agreement between the modelled and observed aboveground biomass (from ages 10-14) and volume (ages 10-29) data for a P. radiata research site in the Australian Capital Territory. England et al (2006) demonstrated excellent agreement between FullCAM outputs and aboveground biomass estimates obtained from destructive sampling of Eucalypt farm forestry plantations aged between 5 and 12 years in south east Australia (r 2 = 0.92, n = 7), England et al (2006) also found good results for natural and tubestock environmental plantings (r 2 = 0.70, n = 7; r 2 = 0.75, n = 7, respectively), although results from direct seeded plantings of low aboveground biomass (<20 t/ha) were less encouraging (r 2 = 0.16, n = 7).…”

“…Enhancing the FullCAM system to allow its application in plantation systems required: a method for calibrating the generalised growth model used by FullCAM for use in plantations; the ability to include the effects of management on growth at any point in a rotation; a knowledge of past management practices and their effects on growth; understanding of the pattern of development of Australia's plantation estate. A full description of FullCAM, its other component models, the calibration and verification methods used, and related data sources are outlined in Brack et al (2006). Kesteven et al (2004) describe the Forest Productivity Index (FPI), a continental site index developed for Australia's National Carbon Accounting System (NCAS).…”

Research core and framework of sustainability science

“…High aerosol levels, resulting principally from recent volcanic activity, have thus protected Caribbean reefs from more frequent widespread bleaching events but cannot be relied on to provide similar protection in the future. Brack et al (2006) developed a comprehensive model for estimating GHG emissions from land systems in Australia. The model includes the effects of climate, land cover change, crop yield, and forest growth.…”

Estimating forest aboveground biomass by low density lidar data in mixed broad-leaved forests in the Italian Pre-Alps

“…Scenario development to assess whether this cycling might change as a result of forest alteration (e.g. degradation induced by climate change) is also needed and is becoming increasingly important as a research field (Brack et al 2006;Lucas et al 2008). A better knowledge of forest ecosystems is critical to greenhouse gas control and biodiversity conservation.…”