think climate. think change.
Department of Climate Change
Philip J. Polglase, Keryn I. Paul, Partap K. Khanna, J. Gwinyai Nyakuengama, Anthony M. O'Connell, Tim S. Grove and Michael Battaglia, October 2000
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Determination of change in soil carbon (C) after afforestation and reforestation is relevant to Australia's National Carbon Accounting System (NCAS) and estimation of change in soil C stocks over the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, 2008-2012. This report reviews the current 'state-of-knowledge' of the effects of afforestation on soil C.
Under the Commonwealth Government forest industry initiative, Vision 2020, the area of plantation in Australia is projected to increase by about two million ha by 2020 over that present in 1996. Most new plantations will be on agricultural land (compliant with terms of the Kyoto Protocol). The area of new plantations established in 1999 was about 95,000 ha, and 150,000 ha is projected for 2000. The effect of this plantation development on soil C stocks needs to be accounted for under Article 3.3 of the Kyoto Protocol.
Because of the number and complexity of soil and site processes involved, the effect of afforestation on soil C stocks is best predicted through a verified modelling approach. A first step in developing this approach is to review the evidence for change in soil C following afforestation, and to identify and understand the controlling processes. This conceptual framework can then form the basis for model development, verification and application.
Relevant data on changes in soil C following afforestation were reviewed. Data were available from 41 published and unpublished studies encompassing 197 sites from around the world where change in soil C following afforestation was monitored.
