CDR and Tropical Forestry: Fighting Climate Change One Cubic Meter a Time

Abstract

In the coming decades, there will be a global increase in demand for biomass and in advocating GHG emission removal technology and practices. In the agriculture and forestry context, intensification of land use is the most promising solution—together with processing efficiency—in balancing consumption, rated as human appropriation of net primary production (HANPP), with Net Primary Production (NPP) from atmospheric CO2 fertilization. Forest plantations, croplands, cultivated pastures, lianas, palms and other secondary vegetation have shown yield gains from CO2 fertilization, while native forest (trees) experience short-lived increases in growth rates and are out-competed by fast-growing components—secondary vegetation. There is evident path of degradation in non-managed, native tropical forests fueled by atmospheric CO2 fertilization. Following such BAU scenario, tropical forests would experience important dwindling in tree cover on a temporal scale. An alternative IFM scenario is proposed combining contemporary silviculture techniques, adapted land use intensification and HWP increase. This would contribute additional atmospheric CO2 removals, certifiable as CDR goods able to generate carbon credits and financial incentive for cultivation of improved native tree species. These CDR credits can be included in tropical countries’ NDC and presented at UNFCCC as an ITMO for fighting global climate change.