Modeling carbon sequestration in afforestation, agroforestry and forest management projects: the CO2FIX V.2 approach

• Published in: Ecological modelling Vol. 164; no. 2; pp. 177 - 199
• Main Authors: Masera, Omar R., Garza-Caligaris, J.F., Kanninen, M., Karjalainen, T., Liski, J., Nabuurs, G.J., Pussinen, A., de Jong, B.H.J., Mohren, G.M.J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 2003; Elsevier
• Subjects: Afforestation; Agroforestry; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Carbon sequestration; Forest management; Forestry; Forests; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General forest ecology; Generalities. Production, biomass. Quality of wood and forest products. General forest ecology; Kyoto Protocol; Synecology; Terrestrial ecosystems; Forests; Kyoto Protocol; Model; Forest management; Afforestation; Carbon sequestration; Agroforestry; Carbon cycle; Forest stand; Forests: Carbon sequestration; Ecosystem; Models; Forest soil; Modeling
• ISSN: 0304-3800; 1872-7026
• DOI: 10.1016/S0304-3800(02)00419-2

The paper describes the Version 2 of the CO2FIX (CO2FIX V.2) model, a user-friendly tool for dynamically estimating the carbon sequestration potential of forest management, agroforesty and afforestation projects. CO2FIX V.2 is a multi-cohort ecosystem-level model based on carbon accounting of forest stands, including forest biomass, soils and products. Carbon stored in living biomass is estimated with a forest cohort model that allows for competition, natural mortality, logging, and mortality due to logging damage. Soil carbon is modeled using five stock pools, three for litter and two for humus. The dynamics of carbon stored in wood products is simulated with a set of pools for short-, medium- and long-lived products, and includes processing efficiency, re-use of by-products, recycling, and disposal forms. The CO2FIX V.2 model estimates total carbon balance of alternative management regimes in both even and uneven-aged forests, and thus has a wide applicability for both temperate and tropical conditions. Results for the model testing and validation in selected temperate and tropical forest management systems are presented and discussed.