The Ecological and Economic Potential of Carbon Sequestration in Forests: Examples from South America

Abstract

Costs of reforestation projects determine their competitiveness with alternative measures to mitigate rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations. We quantify carbon sequestration in above-ground biomass and soils of plantation forests and secondary forests in two countries in South America-Ecuador and Argentina-and calculate costs of temporary carbon sequestration. Costs per temporary certified emission reduction unit vary between 0.1 and 2.7 USD Mg(-1) CO2 and mainly depend on opportunity costs, site suitability, discount rates, and certification costs. In Ecuador, secondary forests are a feasible and cost-efficient alternative, whereas in Argentina reforestation on highly suitable land is relatively cheap. Our results can be used to design cost-effective sink projects and to negotiate fair carbon prices for landowners.

Carbon density and accumulation in woody species of tropical dry forest in India

“…Developing countries are starting plantation programmes, which along with carbon credits, also generate significant income (Niles et al, 2002). The market for CDM has a large potential for reforestation and afforestation activities in developing countries beyond 2012 (De Koning et al, 2005). These activities are only involved in new plantations and protection of young forests but the old-growth forests are not protected because it is generally thought that they cease to accumulate carbon (Kira and Sihdei, 1967;Odum, 1969).…”

Formulating allometric equations for estimating biomass and carbon stock in small diameter trees

“…However, the prerequisite to actual implementation depends very much on accurate verifiable methods developed to estimate the biomass stocks and carbon sequestration rates. Although in the first commitment period of Kyoto, 2008-2012, the market for CDM (Clean Development Mechanism) sinks is limited, the importance of CDM sinks is in large potential for reforestation and afforestation activities in developing countries beyond 2012 (De Koning et al, 2005). On the other hand, providing accurate measurements of forest carbon is difficult without precise measurements of biomass.…”

Valuing Carbon Sequestration to Finance Afforestation Projects in China

“…Thus, we assumed a project duration of 30 years with carbon credits verified and issued every five years. The PV CR of a 30-year project is determined by equation (7) [12,39]:…”

“…The minimum price per ton of CO 2 (ptCER) to make farmers switch from crop production to forestry can be calculated by the following equation [12]:…”

“…Whether financial incentives are sufficient to convince landowners to participate in afforestation projects depends primarily on the comparison of costs and benefits of such projects [10]. There have been cost-benefit analyses of carbon sequestration by afforestation in several countries, such as Canada [11], Argentina and Ecuador [12], as well as Australia [13]. However, to our knowledge, there are only few studies analyzing the economic attractiveness of afforestation projects in China that take full account of the carbon sequestration value.…”