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Tundra

Boreal forest

Temperate forest

Temperate grasslands, savannas and shrublands

Desert and dry shrublands

Tropical and subtropical forests

Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas and shrublands

Source: adapted from Olson

et al

., 2001.

Temperate forests are active carbon sinks and deforestation in the temperate zone has

largely stopped. Where demand for land and/or water allows, reforestation would enable

carbon sequestration and could provide other benefits including higher biodiversity and

recreation opportunities.

Temperate forests are found in climates with four distinct sea-

sons, a well-defined winter and regular precipitation. They oc-

cupy large areas of Asia, Europe and North America and are

found mostly in developed nations. There are many different

types of temperate forests, some dominated by broad-leaved

trees and others by coniferous species, and they are generally

relatively high in animal and plant diversity. Because the soils

they generate are often very fertile much of the area once occu-

pied by temperate forests has been converted to croplands and

pasture and is now used for food production.

Plant growth, decomposition and carbon cycling are rapid

in temperate forests, with less carbon accumulating in the

soil than in boreal forests or tundra. The overall carbon store

for these forests has been estimated at between 150 and 320

tonnes per hectare, of which plant biomass, chiefly in the form

of large woody above-ground organs and deep, coarse root sys-

tems, accounts for around 60% and soil carbon the remainder

(Amundson 2001).

HUMAN IMPACTS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR

CARBON MANAGEMENT

Temperate forests, notably in Europe and North America, have

been increasing in extent for several decades. In many areas,

current management practices, such as relatively lengthy cut-

ting cycles and appropriate fire regimes, have led to an enhanced

capacity for carbon storage. In consequence, temperate forests

are currently considered to be overall carbon sinks. In Europe,

forests are estimated to be taking up 7–12% of European carbon

emissions (Goodale

et al.

2002; Janssens

et al.

2003). Further

reforestation and improvements in management could increase

carbon sequestration in the short term (Jandl

et al.

2007).

TEMPERATE FORESTS