Assessment of the Sequestration Potential of the Aspen-Birch Stands in the Insular Forest-Steppes of Central Siberia

Abstract

The forest-steppes of Central Siberia occupying submontane troughs and intermountain basins separated by taiga vegetation are considered insular. Forest woody vegetation is mainly represented by birch, aspen, larch and pine stands. A decisive role in the ecological sustainability of forest areas is played by larch plantations. This study has aimed to identify the characteristics of the dynamics of individual forest elements in the mixed deciduous stands within the forest area. The tasks have been to identify the characteristics of the forest area, characterize the dynamics of the taxation parameters of major and minor elements of the mixed stands and assess the contribution of the stands to the carbon balance. The work is based on the data of 548 strata. We have established the characteristics of the forest area age structure and how the stands of various completeness and productivity are represented in it. We have also estimated the variability of the average stands taxation parameters in different age periods. The average values obtained have become the basis for mathematical modeling of the table of the dynamics of the taxation parameters of the mixed stands. It turns out that the process to a reasonable degree of adequacy is reflected by the Weibull distribution. The accuracy of the equations has been estimated by the value of the coefficient of determination (R2) and the standard error of the equation (S). On the basis of the obtained mathematical models, we have constructed the table of the dynamics of the average taxation parameters of the stands of the forest elements and of the mixed stand as a whole. The biological system of forest woody vegetation under consideration has a significant carbon sequestration potential. However, there is currently no generally accepted procedure for assessing the effectiveness of this process. Russian and foreign researchers have collected a large amount of data from different regions, but they have been using different methods. To estimate carbon stocks in the stands that are the object of the study, we have used the conversion-volume method for estimating carbon stocks in forest plantations. The result is the obtained data illustrating the dynamics of carbon stocks in the aspen-birch stands in the insular forest-steppes of Central Siberia.