3 research outputs found
Carbon recovery dynamics following disturbance by selective logging in Amazonian forests
Abstract When 2 Mha of Amazonian forests are disturbed by selective logging each year, more than 90 Tg of carbon (C) is emitted to the atmosphere. Emissions are then counterbalanced by forest regrowth. With an original modelling approach, calibrated on a network of 133 permanent forest plots (175 ha total) across Amazonia, we link regional differences in climate, soil and initial biomass with survivors' and recruits' C fluxes to provide Amazon-wide predictions of post-logging C recovery. We show that net aboveground C recovery over 10 years is higher in the Guiana Shield and in the west (21 AE3 Mg C ha À1 ) than in the south (12 AE3 Mg C ha À1 ) where environmental stress is high (low rainfall, high seasonality). We highlight the key role of survivors in the forest regrowth and elaborate a comprehensive map of post-disturbance C recovery potential in Amazonia
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Systematic review of the achieved emission reductions of carbon crediting projects
Carbon markets play an important role in firms’ and governments’ climate strategies. Carbon crediting mechanisms allow project developers to earn carbon credits through mitigation projects. Several studies have raised concerns about the environmental integrity of these credits, though a systematic evaluation of rigorous empirical studies is missing. We synthesized all studies relying on experimental or rigorous observational methods, covering 14 studies on 2,420 carbon mitigation projects and 51 studies investigating similar field interventions implemented without issuing carbon credits. The analysis covers one-fifth of the credit volume issued to date, almost 1 billion tons of CO2e. We estimate that less than 16% of the carbon credits issued to the investigated projects constitute real emission reductions, with 11% for cookstoves, 16% for SF6 destruction, 25% for avoided deforestation, 68% for HFC-23 abatement, and no statistically significant emission reductions from wind power projects in China and improved forest management projects in the United States. Our review, therefore, documents substantial and systemic quality problems across project types. These quality problems stem from adverse selection, the ability of project developers to make unrealistic assumptions or pick favourable data, and inappropriate methodological approaches. Carbon crediting mechanisms need to be reformed fundamentally to meaningfully contribute to climate change mitigation