Policy Brief: Turning our research's work into policy brief for the society.

Topic: Towards refinement of Bhutan’s forest carbon assessment system

Rationale

Bhutan has currently 70% of its land area under intact forest cover and is committed to maintain at least 60% of it in perpetuity. Every year Bhutan’s forests absorb approximately 6.3 million tons of carbon which is three times greater than the country’s total annual greenhouse gas emissions, thus making Bhutan a globally important carbon sink.  In order to maintain the commitments on forest cover and climate mitigation, Bhutan’s national forest carbon assessment system, requires continuous development and refinement.  To this end, estimations of forest carbon stocks including carbon emissions and removals need comprehensive scientific understanding of the relevant ecosystem characteristics and dynamics, especially under expected changes in climatic conditions. Ongoing research by the Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environmental Research addressing aspects of wood/carbon stocks estimations, as well as forest growth and ecosystem dynamics under increasing dryer climatic scenarios has generated first results. These outcomes and their implications for further refining the existing forest carbon accounting system are presented in this policy brief.

Research Work

 A sequence of scientific field studies has been carried out as summarized in the box below.

Effect of drought on sap flux, soil respiration, root biomass, hydrological cycle (transpiration, run off, evaporation, through fall and stem flow).       Form factor equations for selected tree species. Assessment of agroforestry intervention to understand the contribution of trees outside forest to the total carbon pool in tropical forest ecosystem

Research Outcome and its Use in Forest Carbon Accounting

•   CO2 emissions from soils in warm broadleaved forests (13 ton C ha^-1 yr^-1) and cool conifer forest (14 ton C ha^-1 yr^-1) showed markedly reduced (by 50%) levels under dryer site condition. This means that under expected future more erratic monsoon events with longer dry spells, less CO2 from the soils will be emitted. This is an important aspect to be incorporated into soil/litter carbon modeling applied in carbon accounting systems.
•   Newly developed form factor equations of selected tree species will help in more accurately estimating stem volume and its carbon content.
•   Studies on wood anatomy conducted on major tree species show changes in wood density for trees located in drier site condition, indicating slower growth and thus reduced carbon sequestration. Both results will allow more site specific and realistic estimation of carbon stocks and related carbon sequestration/emissions.

Recommendations

•  Consider inclusion of the improved ecosystem parameters generated by this research into the current forest carbon accounting system as well as national forest inventory.
•   Invite the scientists to participate in the respective expert group of NEC and DFPS, respectively.
•   Support further research on ecosystem characteristics and dynamics, especially under expected changes in climatic conditions in all major forest types in Bhutan by providing adequate resources and institutional arrangements.

All in all, ongoing research work in the forest of Bhutan by the Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environmental Research is continuously generating valuable output that is indispensable for practical implementation of refined IPCC-compliant forest carbon accounting and national forest inventories.

Best Regards

Mani Prasad Nirola

Note: Hope this is useful to fellow citizen who are into carbon.