Actions for Carbon emissions and sequestration in forests [electronic resource] : Case studies from seven developing countries

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Carbon emissions and sequestration in forests [electronic resource] : Case studies from seven developing countries

Published
Washington, D.C. : United States. Environmental Protection Agency, 1992.
Oak Ridge, Tenn. : Distributed by the Office of Scientific and Technical Information, U.S. Dept. of Energy.
Physical Description
Pages: (73 pages) : digital, PDF file
Additional Creators
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, United States. Environmental Protection Agency, and United States. Department of Energy. Office of Scientific and Technical Information
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Summary
Deforestation in Brazilian Amazonia in 1990 was releasing approximately 281--282 X 10⁶ metric tons (MT) of carbon on conversion to a landscape of agriculture, productive pasture, degraded pasture, secondary forest and regenerated forest in the proportions corresponding to the equilibrium condition implied by current land-use patterns. Emissions are expressed as committed carbon,'' or the carbon released over a period of years as the carbon stock in each hectare deforested approaches a new equilibrium in the landscape that replaces the original forest. To the extent that deforestation rates have remained constant, current releases from the areas deforested in previous years will be equal to the future releases from the areas being cleared now. Considering the quantities of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, nitrous oxide, NOₓ and non-methane hydrocarbons released raises the impact by 22--37%. The relative impact on the greenhouse effect of each gas is based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) calculations over a 20-year time period (including indirect effects). The six gases considered have a combined global warming impact equivalent to 343 to 386 million MT of CO₂-equivalent carbon, depending on assumptions regarding the release of methane and other gases from the various sources such as burning and termites. These emissions represent 7--8 times the 50 million MT annual carbon release from Brazil's use of fossil fuels, but bring little benefit to the country. Stopping deforestation in Brazil would prevent as much greenhouse emission as tripling the fuel efficiency of all the automobiles in the world. The relatively cheap measures needed to contain deforestation, together with the many complementary benefits of doing so, make this the first priority for funds intended to slow global warming.
Report Numbers
E 1.99:lbl-32758
lbl-32758
Subject(s)
Other Subject(s)
Note
Published through SciTech Connect.
08/01/1992.
"lbl-32758"
"DE93001526"
Sathaye, J.; Makundi, W.; Fearnside, P.M.
Funding Information
AC03-76SF00098
View MARC record | catkey: 14095112