The role of species composition in montane reforested areas to offset carbon emissions

Abstract

Natural reforestation may represent an opportunity for ecosystem restoration but is highly dependent on the socioeconomic context, which may modify succession rates and forest species composition. Plant species dominance determines the functioning of the forests and their capacity to offset Carbon emissions, however, few studies have discriminated the role of species composition and assessed their quantitative balance compared with regional emissions. Here, we quantify the contribution of forests dominated by different plant species to Carbon stocks and sequestration in a northwestern Argentina watershed. We integrate field and remote sensing data for the last three decades to estimate Carbon stock and sequestration in native and non-native forests compared with governmental emission estimates. We found that a 9% gain in forest area contributed to a 5% increase in aboveground C stocks and forests dominated by non-native species (Ligustrum lucidum) showed a significant capacity to store C compared to native ones; but the contribution of new forests to Carbon sequestration was far outweighed by local anthropogenic emissions.