Estimating the effects of land-use change on global atmospheric CO2 concentrations

Abstract

Determining how land-use change effects atmospheric CO2 concentrations requires new approaches to research because of the large area and the long period of time involved. This special issue of the CanadianJournalofForestResearch presents a series of papers that demonstrate one approach to the problem. Estimates of the flux of carbon to the atmosphere are based on site-specific information concerning the effects of land-use change on the carbon content of terrestrial vegetation. This spatially explicit approach combines historical and current information on land-use change for a specific area. South and southeast Asia was chosen for the study because the region is undergoing major land-use changes and makes a significant contribution to atmospheric CO2. The results of the study have assisted in reducing the uncertainty about the magnitude of carbon release while providing new constraints to the analysis.