PRESENT KNOWLEDGEOF FOREST ECOSYSTEM CARBON IN RUSSIA

AND PROBLEMS OF ITS IMPROVING

byVladislav Alexeyev

Maxim MarkovBoris Rybinin

Michael Tarasov

Pavel Zimnitsky

DISTRIBUTION OF TERRESTRIAL AREAS OF RUSSIA BY CATEGORIES OF LANDS, (State Report…, 1995)

Category of land

Lands under management of different agencies, million ha Total

Forestry Agricultural Towns & Industry

Ecology Reservemillion

ha%

Forested area 681,1 114,3 7,3 13,6 7,0 823,3 48,1

Agricultural lands, including croplands, ploughed fields and pastures for cattle & deers

63,0 439,8 26,3 1,4 19,5 550,0 32,2

Peatlands 78,6 13,2 1,9 1,9 11,2 107,5 6,3

Waters (rivers, lakes) 13,1 19,3 1,7 1,5 17,9 72,0 4,2

Towns & villages 1,7 3,5 7,1 0,0 0,1 12,4 0,7

Damaged lands 0,1 0,3 0,7 0,0 0,1 1,2 0,1

Other lands 6,2 53,2 9,7 10,0 46,1 125,3 7,3

Total843,8 656,8 56,3 28,9 104,8 1709,9 100,0

  49,3 38,4 3,3 1,7 6,1 100,0 

Table 1.

AGE CHANGING OF PHYTOMASS IN FOREST ECOSYSTEMS OF SCOTS PINE IN SOUTHERN TAIGA OF EUROPEAN RUSSIA.

LENINGRAD REGION, TREE STAND OF III SITE QUALITY CLASS (after Usoltsev,2002)

Table 2a.

Age of treesGrowing

stock, m3/ha

Phytomass of stand, t/ha Other vegetation

(understory)t/ha

Boles (with bark)

Leaves/needles

Branches Roots Stand, total

20 46 21,2 6,72 7,2 7,1 42,22 3,26

30 78 36,1 5,98 7,2 10,5 59,78 3,70

40 111 51,6 5,54 7,5 13,5 78,14 3,92

50 150 69,9 5,76 9,0 17,6 102,26 4,30

60 188 87,9 5,82 10,2 21,3 125,22 4,40

70 224 105,0 5,89 11,9 25,2 147,99 4,08

80 257 120,8 5,99 12,5 27,8 167,09 5,13

90 287 135,3 6,18 14,0 31,0 186,48 5,52

100 311 147,1 6,20 14,7 33,3 201,30 6,00

110 330 156,6 6,17 15,3 35,1 213,17 6,33

120 347 165,2 6,09 15,7 36,8 223,79 6,47

130 360 171,9 6,06 16,0 38,0 231,96 7,03

140 367 175,9 5,91 16,1 38,6 236,51 7,20

FRACTIONAL DISTRIBUTION OF PHYTOMASS IN FOREST ECOSYSTEMS OF SCOTS PINE IN SOUTHERN TAIGA OF EUROPEAN RUSSIA. 

LENINGRAD REGION, TREE STAND OF III SITE QUALITY CLASS

Table 2b.

Age of treesGrowing

stock, m3/ha

Phytomass of stand, % Other vegetation

(understory)% of stand

Boles (with bark)

Leaves/needles

Branches Roots Stand, total

20 46 50,2 15,9 17,1 16,8 100,0 7,7

30 78 60,4 10,0 12,0 17,6 100,0 6,2

40 111 66,0 7,1 9,6 17,3 100,0 5,0

50 150 68,4 5,6 8,8 17,2 100,0 4,2

60 188 70,2 4,6 8,1 17,0 100,0 3,5

70 224 71,0 4,0 8,0 17,0 100,0 2,8

80 257 72,3 3,6 7,5 16,6 100,0 3,1

90 287 72,6 3,3 7,5 16,6 100,0 3,0

100 311 73,1 3,1 7,3 16,5 100,0 3,0

110 330 73,5 2,9 7,2 16,5 100,0 3,0

120 347 73,8 2,7 7,0 16,4 100,0 2,9

130 360 74,1 2,6 6,9 16,4 100,0 3,0

140 367 74,4 2,5 6,8 16,3 100,0 3,0

COEFFICIENTS FOR CONVERTING OF SCOTS PINE GROWING STOCK VOLUME (m3/ha) IN ECOSYSTEMS OF SOUTHERN TAIGA OF EUROPEAN RUSSIA TO PHYTOMASS (t/ha)

 LENINGRAD REGION, TREE STAND OF III SITE QUALITY CLASS

Table 2c.

Age of treesGrowing

stock, m3/ha

Coefficients for converting of growing stock (m3/ha)to phytomass (t/ha)

Other vegetation

(understory)t/haBoles

(with bark)Leaves

/needlesBranches Roots

Total tree stand

20 46 0,461 0,146 0,157 0,154 0,918 0,168

30 78 0,463 0,077 0,092 0,135 0,766 0,079

40 111 0,465 0,050 0,068 0,122 0,704 0,045

50 150 0,466 0,038 0,060 0,117 0,682 0,028

60 188 0,468 0,031 0,054 0,113 0,666 0,019

70 224 0,469 0,026 0,053 0,113 0,661 0,012

80 257 0,470 0,023 0,049 0,108 0,650 0,012

90 287 0,471 0,022 0,049 0,108 0,650 0,010

100 311 0,473 0,020 0,047 0,107 0,647 0,010

110 330 0,475 0,019 0,046 0,106 0,646 0,009

120 347 0,476 0,018 0,045 0,106 0,645 0,008

130 360 0,478 0,017 0,044 0,106 0,644 0,008

140 367 0,479 0,016 0,044 0,105 0,644 0,008

COEFFICIENTS FOR CONVERTING OF SCOTS PINE GROWING STOCK (m3/ha) IN ECOSYSTEMS OF SOUTHERN TAIGA OF EUROPEAN RUSSIA TO CARBON (t/ha) 

LENINGRAD REGION, TREE STAND OF III SITE QUALITY CLASS

Table 2d.

Age of treesGrowing

stock, m3/ha

Coefficients for converting of growing stock (m3/ha)to carbon (t/ha)

Other vegetation

(understory)t/haBoles

(with bark)Leaves

/needlesBranches Roots

Total tree stand

20 46 0,230 0,073 0,078 0,077 0,459 0,084

30 78 0,231 0,038 0,046 0,067 0,383 0,040

40 111 0,232 0,025 0,034 0,061 0,352 0,023

50 150 0,233 0,019 0,030 0,059 0,341 0,014

60 188 0,234 0,015 0,027 0,057 0,333 0,009

70 224 0,234 0,013 0,027 0,056 0,330 0,006

80 257 0,235 0,012 0,024 0,054 0,325 0,006

90 287 0,236 0,011 0,024 0,054 0,325 0,005

100 311 0,236 0,010 0,024 0,054 0,324 0,005

110 330 0,237 0,009 0,023 0,053 0,323 0,004

120 347 0,238 0,009 0,023 0,053 0,322 0,004

130 360 0,239 0,008 0,022 0,053 0,322 0,004

140 367 0,240 0,008 0,022 0,053 0,322 0,004

COEFFICIENTS FOR CONVERSION THE VOLUME OF GROWING STOCK TO STAND PHYTOMASS FOR MAJOR TREE SPECIES IN ECOREGIONS OF RUSSIA

(1994, extraction)

Table 2e.

Dominant tree species

Age-class group

Young stands Middle-aged

MaturingMature

/overmatureClass Ia Class IIb

European Part of Russia Northern Taiga

Scots pine 0.888 0.696 0.694 0.675 0.621

Spruce 1.144 0.750 0.736 0.732 0.684

Birch 1.106 0.840 0.834 0.894 0.864

Middle Taiga

Scots pine 0.696 0.556 0.568 0.612 0.586

Spruce 0.880 0.686 0.678 0.686 0.649

Birch 1.034 0.744 0.750 0.806 0.778

Aspen 0.786 0.510 0.540 0.556 0.496

Southern Taiga and Forest Steppe

Scots pine 0.696 0.556 0.568 0.612 0.586

Spruce 0.830 0.668 0.608 0.670 0.632

Birch 1.034 0.736 0.750 0.802 0.780

Aspen 0.786 0.540 0.540 0.558 0.496

Coefficients for conversion of growing stock volume (m3) to carbon (t) European part of Russia

(2004, Extraction)

Table 3.

Dominant species&

Ecoregions

Age of tree stands

10 20 30 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180

Pinus sylvestris  

Boreal zone

Northern taiga 0,728 0,535 0,439 0,401 0,370 0,358 0,352 0,349 0,346 0,345 0,344

Middle taiga 0,562 0,436 0,375 0,351 0,333 0,326 0,323 0,321 0,320 0,319 0,319

Southern taiga

0,446 0,369 0,331 0,318 0,307 0,303 0,302 0,301 0,300 0,300 0,299

Mixed forests 0,367 0,325 0,303 0,295 0,289 0,287 0,286 0,286 0,286 0,285 0,285

Zone of deciduous hardwood forests

0,334 0,297 0,285 0,281 0,278 0,277 0,276 0,276 0,276 0,276 0,276

Picea  

Boreal zone

Northern taiga 0,762 0,590 0,503 0,456 0,411 0,387 0,370 0,359 0,352 0,346 0,341

Middle taiga 0,700 0,535 0,455 0,414 0,374 0,354 0,342 0,334 0,328 0,324 0,320

Southern taiga & Mixed forests

0,658 0,498 0,423 0,386 0,350 0,333 0,323 0,317 0,313 0,309 0,306

Detailed coefficients for transmission of growing stock volume (m3) to carbon (t)(Extraction for Scots pine forests in middle taiga of European Russia )

Table 4.

Humidity of forest

ecosystems

Relative density of

stands

Age-class group

Young stands Middle-aged

Maturing Mature Overmatur

eClass I Class II

Excessively drained sites

0,5 & < 0,481 0,396 0,378 0,371 0,368 0,366

0,6 - 0,8 0,436 0,351 0,333 0,326 0,323 0,321

0,9 & > 0,411 0,326 0,308 0,301 0,298 0,296

Well and moderately well drained sites

0,5 & < 0,481 0,396 0,378 0,371 0,368 0,366

0,6 - 0,8 0,436 0,351 0,333 0,326 0,323 0,321

0,9 & > 0,411 0,326 0,308 0,301 0,298 0,296

Poorly drained sites

0,5 & < 0,481 0,396 0,378 0,371 0,368 0,366

0,6 - 0,8 0,436 0,351 0,333 0,326 0,323 0,321

0,9 & > 0,411 0,326 0,308 0,301 0,298 0,296

CONVERSION COEFFICIENTS FOR TRANSFORMING VOLUME OF COARSE WOODY DEBRIS (CWD, m3/ha)

OF FOREST ECOSYSTEMS IN EUROPEAN RUSSIA TO CARBON (t/ha) [after clearcutting]

Table 5.

Dominant tree species

Young stands Middle-aged

Maturing Mature Over-matureClass I Class II

Northern Taiga

Scots pine 1,05 0,46 0,37 0,21 0,17 0,19

Spruce 1,23 0,56 0,21 0,16 0,11 0,13

Birch 1,55 0,64 0,19 0,04 0,02 0,04

Middle Taiga

Scots pine 1,23 0,49 0,24 0,18 0,10 0,12

Spruce 1,26 0,62 0,26 0,15 0,05 0,07

Birch 1,14 0,62 0,23 0,08 0,04 0,10

Aspen 1,42 0,44 0,21 0,09 0,06 0,09

Southern Taiga

Scots pine 1,48 0,20 0,17 0,09 0,07 0,10

Spruce 1,39 0,24 0,09 0,05 0,04 0,07

Birch 1,21 0,48 0,15 0,09 0,05 0,07

Aspen 1,78 0,69 0,14 0,08 0,05 0,06

Carbon (Mt) of components in Scots pine forest ecosystems of Leningrad Oblast(after clearcutting)

Table 6.

Components of forest ecosystem

Age class group of stands Total

Young I class

Young II class

Middle- aged

PrematureMature &

overmature

Methodology-1994

Forest vegetation: 

Tree stand 2,01 4,79 25,27 23,55 21,28 76,9

Understory           3,4

Methodology-2004

Forest vegetation:           

Tree stand 2,01 4,79 25,27 23,55 21,28 76,9

Understory 0,1 0,2 0,9 1,0 0,9 3,1

CWD on the ground 3,0 0,96 4,30 2,12 1,81 12,19

CWD of roots           

Litter 1,77 2,3 9,33 7,73 12,7 33,83

Soil 12,86 8,39 22,65 16,92 19,88 80,7

Total 20,22 16,67 62,23 50,86 57,04 207,02

CARBON STORAGE AND CARBON DENSITY OF FOREST ECOSYSTEMS IN GEOGRAPHICAL ECOREGIONS OF RUSSIA

Table 7.

EcoregionEuropean Russia

Asian RussiaTotal

Western Siberia Middle SiberiaEastern Siberia

and Yakutia Far East

Gt t/ha Gt t/ha Gt t/ha Gt t/ha Gt t/ha Gt t/ha

Plains

Forest tundra zone 0,35 103 1,83 149 3,31 125 - - - - 5,4 130

Boreal zone                        

Northern taiga subzone

4,93 137 3,75 181 3,78 113 - - - - 12,46 138

Middle taiga 5,1 137 7,86 191 4,71 193 10,11 149 - - 27,78 163

Southern taiga subzone 4,22 118 6,14 203 5,77 230 - - - - 16,13 177

Mixed forests 1,86 142 - - - - - - - - 1,86 142

Forest steppe zone 1,49 156 1,68 246 1,11 281 - - 1,18 204 5,46 208

Steppe zone 0,22 131 0,27 147 - - - - - - 0,49 136

Desert zone 0,02 136 - - - - - - - - 0,02 136

Subtotal 18,19   21,53   18,68   10,11   1,18   69,69  

Mountains 

Subarctic zone 0,04 123     0,72 88 3,91 99 1,67 91 6,31 95

Boreal zone 1,01 125     3,94 171 7,73 123 9,87 156 22,55 143

Subboreal zone (Ural) 0,86 148     7,92 174 4,64 174 4,8 177 18,22 168

Subboreal (Caucasus) 0,79 239                 0,79 239

Subarid zone         0,37 160         0,37 160

Subtotal 2,67       12,95   16,28   16,34   48,24  

Total 20,86   21,53   31,63   26,39   17,52   117,93  

middle-aged maturing

mature and overmature young stands

5

15

25

35

45

55

65

12.05.1905

Year of forest account

A

vera

ge d

ensi

ty C

, t/h

a

1961 1966 1973 1978 1983 1988 1993 1998

Dynamic of average carbon density in deciduous softwood stands of European Russia by age groups:

Dynamic of average carbon density in coniferous stands of European Russia by age groups:

middle-aged maturing

mature and overmature young stands

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

12.05.1905

Year of forest account

Ave

rage

den

sity

C, t

/ha

1961 1966 1973 1978 1983 1988 1993 1998

Conclusion

1. The Government of Russia did not take attention for research of the National terrestrial carbon up to October-2004.

2. Russia has no the National program for carbon research.

3. Developing of carbon research is restricted by (1) absence of funding for work and (2) not available for scientists of the State Forest Account-2003

4. Study and estimate of storage and dynamics of carbon in ecosystems of Russia is carry out by small separated groups of scientists (inside and outside of that country). Funding of these researchers is providing mainly for account of different grants.

5. Carbon storage of forest stands of Russia (in the National scale and for different geographical and administrative regions) is estimated to present time with error of ±10-20%.

6. Methodology of carbon estimation for forest ecosystems are in developing. The results of the first approximation was published by Alexeyev an Birdsey in 1994, the second – by IIASA in 2000. The third approximation is going to be published by Alexeyev and Birdsey in the spring of 2005 .

7. The single detail estimation of the full carbon balance for Russia was made by IIASA in 2000. Main conclusion of this study – a level of our carbon knowledge is insufficient for such calculations. Uncertainties of estimation give error over 100%.

Primary tasks for Russian carbon in 2005-2006

1. Organize and develop the National program for research of carbon in Russian terrestrial ecosystems. 

2. Try to get a sufficient budget and private funding (including the International) for carbon ecosystem research

3. Change of the database aggregation in the State Forest Account for understanding of the climax forests, uneven aged stands, show absolute age of dominant tree species, show all site quality classes of stands, etc.).

4. More intensively to involve of the International science and scientists in research of carbon in forest ecosystems of Russia.

5. Organize in Russia the International Workshop devoted to research of Russian forest carbon.