Chinese scientists are delving into the diversity of tree species in artificial forests to enhance carbon storage capabilities.
China boasts the world's largest expanse of artificial forests, accounting for over a third of the global total. However, researchers have discovered that simply increasing the number of forests doesn't necessarily boost carbon storage. Factors like location, tree species selection, timing, and maintenance play crucial roles.
Monoculture practices, where a single tree species is grown extensively, have raised concerns about vulnerability to diseases and external disturbances. In Qianjiangyuan Forest National Park in Zhejiang Province, a team of young scientists is learning from natural forests to find sustainable solutions.
\"How do we use the laws of nature to build artificial arrangements and systems? Monoculture is not workable. Basic research can provide solutions to which tree species can grow together to achieve efficient carbon storage, which could help realize the combination of biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation,\" said Ma Keping, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Innovative laser technology is revolutionizing the understanding of natural forests. \"Whether it is lab research or natural forest research, it has been proven that diversity is beneficial to forest ecosystem productivity and carbon storage,\" Ma added.
Liu Xiaojuan, another researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is leading a decade-long project to explore how increased biodiversity can enhance a forest's carbon storage in natural environments. By comparing plots with single species to those with 2 to 24 species, Liu's research found that after 8 years, forests with 16 species stored twice as much carbon as monocultures.
The study reveals that biodiverse forests develop complex networks for water and microbe exchange, optimizing sunlight absorption and preventing overshadowing. \"For any individual tree, the rate of growth is relative to its neighbors. Combining data from different altitudes helps us determine suitable tree species combinations for artificial forests,\" Ma explained.
Reference(s):
Chinese scientists study laws of nature to achieve efficient carbon storage
cgtn.com
