Carbon stock on 5-year-old Atlantic Forest areas under restoration

Author(s)

Anani Morilha Zanini

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Piracicaba.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC)
• Defense date: 2019-02-06

Examining board members

Ricardo Ribeiro Rodrigues; Luiz Antonio Martinelli; Edson José Vidal da Silva; Simone Aparecida Vieira

• Advisor: Ricardo Ribeiro Rodrigues

Abstract

Changing soil use classes, mainly for deforestation in tropical areas is the third main source of greenhouse gases. Forest restauration is an important tool to mitigate global warming, since carbon sequestration comes from tree growing and biomass accumulation in ecosystems. This way, it is necessary to quantify carbon sequestration in different environmental conditions and implementation methodologies towards more efficient procedures. The goal of this study is to understand carbon stocks mechanisms in 5-year-old forest restauration areas by assessing carbon stock on the following pools: alive and dead biomass and soil, varying the treatments (active restoration, passive restoration and assistive restoration). This study was divided into 2 parts: for the first part, carbon stock in alive biomass above ground was quantified on forest restauration areas by in situ measurements and the average increment found was considered adequate for that age. An alometric model was recommended to estimate biomass for areas under restoration. On the second part of this study carbon stock was quantified on all pools (trees, herbaceous, litter, dead wood, roots and soil) on the different treatments and values were compared to a remaining area stablished into a pasture. The results show that all pools give significant contributions on the carbon stock for the area and that the restored areas, mainly the treatment active restoration are in process of establishment and performing a great environmental service, which is mitigate global warming. One concludes that this study shows the importance of restored areas on mitigating global warming and that all pools are significant on carbon stocking. It is recommended that carbon stock assessment should be made from time to time, so it is possible to know the carbon sequestration dynamic for that particular area. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/21721-6 - Carbon storage in different methodologies for forest restoration in Atlantic Forest
• Grantee: Anani Morilha Zanini
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master