Carbon emissions and sequestration in forests: Case studies from seven developing countries

Technical Report · Sat Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1992

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7034857· OSTI ID:7034857

Makundi, W; Sathaye, J ^[1]; Cerutti, O M; Ordonez, M J; Minjarez, R D ^[2]

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1. eds.; Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (United States)
2. Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico City (Mexico) Centro de Ecologia

Estimates of carbon emissions from deforestation in Mexico are derived for the year 1985 and for two contrasting scenarios in 2025. Carbon emissions are calculated through an in-depth review of the existing information on forest cover deforestation mtes and area affected by forest fires as well as on forests' carbon-related biological characteristics. The analysis covers both tropical -- evergreen and deciduous -- and temperate -- coniferous and broadleaf -- closed forests. Emissions from the forest sector are also compared to those from energy and industry. Different policy options for promoting the sustainable management of forest resources in the country are discussed. The analysis indicates that approximately 804,000 hectares per year of closed forests suffered from major perturbations in the mid 1980's in Mexico, leading to an annual deforestation mte of 668,000 hectares. Seventy five percent of total deforestation is concentrated in tropical forests. The resulting annual carbon balance is estimated in 53.4 million tons per year, and the net committed emissions in 45.5 million tons or 41% and 38%, respectively, of the country's total for 1985--87. The annual carbon balance from the forest sector in 2025 is expected to decline to 16.5 million tons in the low emissions scenario and to 22.9 million tons in the high emissions scenario. Because of the large uncertainties in some of the primary sources of information, the stated figures should be taken as preliminary estimates.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (United States); Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: EPA; Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• OSTI ID: 7034857
• Report Number(s): LBL-32665; ON: DE93001599
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
540250 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (1990-)
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CLIMATIC CHANGE
DEFORESTATION
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
FIRES
FORESTS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
LAND USE
LATIN AMERICA
MEXICO
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PRODUCTION