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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