November 25, 2015 at 04:17PM Central African forests: large trees are best at storing carbon

In Central Africa, large trees and a few hyperdominant species play a prominent role in carbon storage and forest structure. Scientists show in particular that it is possible to establish the carbon balance of the entire forest stand by measuring just 5% of its individuals, with a margin of error of less than 15%. Furthermore, the study reveals that the hyperdominance of the species of Central Africa, contrary to what is observed in the Amazon, is due to the abundance of these species, not to their size. These findings, obtained by means of a vast survey by CIRAD scientists working with many other researchers from both North and South, fill the gaps in our knowledge of these forests, which are a major issue for the countries in the region. In more concrete terms, they have given rise to new methods for estimating carbon stocks that are both simple and economical.

via CIRAD - Actualités / News http://ift.tt/1HmZwgm