Assessing the carbon capture potential of a reforestation project

Abstract The number of reforestation projects worldwide is increasing. In many cases funding is obtained through the claimed carbon capture of the trees, presented as immediate and durable, whereas reforested plots need time and maintenance to realise their carbon capture potential. Further, claims...

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Autores principales:	David Lefebvre, Adrian G. Williams, Guy J. D. Kirk, Paul, J. Burgess, Jeroen Meersmans, Miles R. Silman, Francisco Román-Dañobeytia, Jhon Farfan, Pete Smith
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Nature Portfolio 2021
Materias:	Medicine R Science Q
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/db0e70da8d2c4cbfaae9160c9a1b89b7
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:db0e70da8d2c4cbfaae9160c9a1b89b72021-12-02T18:01:52ZAssessing the carbon capture potential of a reforestation project10.1038/s41598-021-99395-62045-2322https://doaj.org/article/db0e70da8d2c4cbfaae9160c9a1b89b72021-10-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-99395-6https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322Abstract The number of reforestation projects worldwide is increasing. In many cases funding is obtained through the claimed carbon capture of the trees, presented as immediate and durable, whereas reforested plots need time and maintenance to realise their carbon capture potential. Further, claims usually overlook the environmental costs of natural or anthropogenic disturbances during the forest’s lifetime, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the reforestation are not allowed for. This study uses life cycle assessment to quantify the carbon footprint of setting up a reforestation plot in the Peruvian Amazon. In parallel, we combine a soil carbon model with an above- and below-ground plant carbon model to predict the increase in carbon stocks after planting. We compare our results with the carbon capture claims made by a reforestation platform. Our results show major errors in carbon accounting in reforestation projects if they (1) ignore the time needed for trees to reach their carbon capture potential; (2) ignore the GHG emissions involved in setting up a plot; (3) report the carbon capture potential per tree planted, thereby ignoring limitations at the forest ecosystem level; or (4) under-estimate tree losses due to inevitable human and climatic disturbances. Further, we show that applications of biochar during reforestation can partially compensate for project emissions.David LefebvreAdrian G. WilliamsGuy J. D. KirkPaulJ. BurgessJeroen MeersmansMiles R. SilmanFrancisco Román-DañobeytiaJhon FarfanPete SmithNature PortfolioarticleMedicineRScienceQENScientific Reports, Vol 11, Iss 1, Pp 1-10 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Medicine R Science Q
spellingShingle	Medicine R Science Q David Lefebvre Adrian G. Williams Guy J. D. Kirk Paul J. Burgess Jeroen Meersmans Miles R. Silman Francisco Román-Dañobeytia Jhon Farfan Pete Smith Assessing the carbon capture potential of a reforestation project
description	Abstract The number of reforestation projects worldwide is increasing. In many cases funding is obtained through the claimed carbon capture of the trees, presented as immediate and durable, whereas reforested plots need time and maintenance to realise their carbon capture potential. Further, claims usually overlook the environmental costs of natural or anthropogenic disturbances during the forest’s lifetime, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the reforestation are not allowed for. This study uses life cycle assessment to quantify the carbon footprint of setting up a reforestation plot in the Peruvian Amazon. In parallel, we combine a soil carbon model with an above- and below-ground plant carbon model to predict the increase in carbon stocks after planting. We compare our results with the carbon capture claims made by a reforestation platform. Our results show major errors in carbon accounting in reforestation projects if they (1) ignore the time needed for trees to reach their carbon capture potential; (2) ignore the GHG emissions involved in setting up a plot; (3) report the carbon capture potential per tree planted, thereby ignoring limitations at the forest ecosystem level; or (4) under-estimate tree losses due to inevitable human and climatic disturbances. Further, we show that applications of biochar during reforestation can partially compensate for project emissions.
format	article
author	David Lefebvre Adrian G. Williams Guy J. D. Kirk Paul J. Burgess Jeroen Meersmans Miles R. Silman Francisco Román-Dañobeytia Jhon Farfan Pete Smith
author_facet	David Lefebvre Adrian G. Williams Guy J. D. Kirk Paul J. Burgess Jeroen Meersmans Miles R. Silman Francisco Román-Dañobeytia Jhon Farfan Pete Smith
author_sort	David Lefebvre
title	Assessing the carbon capture potential of a reforestation project
title_short	Assessing the carbon capture potential of a reforestation project
title_full	Assessing the carbon capture potential of a reforestation project
title_fullStr	Assessing the carbon capture potential of a reforestation project
title_full_unstemmed	Assessing the carbon capture potential of a reforestation project
title_sort	assessing the carbon capture potential of a reforestation project
publisher	Nature Portfolio
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/db0e70da8d2c4cbfaae9160c9a1b89b7
work_keys_str_mv	AT davidlefebvre assessingthecarboncapturepotentialofareforestationproject AT adriangwilliams assessingthecarboncapturepotentialofareforestationproject AT guyjdkirk assessingthecarboncapturepotentialofareforestationproject AT paul assessingthecarboncapturepotentialofareforestationproject AT jburgess assessingthecarboncapturepotentialofareforestationproject AT jeroenmeersmans assessingthecarboncapturepotentialofareforestationproject AT milesrsilman assessingthecarboncapturepotentialofareforestationproject AT franciscoromandanobeytia assessingthecarboncapturepotentialofareforestationproject AT jhonfarfan assessingthecarboncapturepotentialofareforestationproject AT petesmith assessingthecarboncapturepotentialofareforestationproject
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Assessing the carbon capture potential of a reforestation project

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