Abstract
Abstract
Background
Globally, vegetation in riparian zones is frequently the target of restoration efforts because of its importance in reducing the input of eroded sediment and agricultural nutrient runoff to surface waters. Here we examine the potential of riparian zone restoration to enhance carbon sequestration. We measured soil and woody biomass carbon stocks, as well as soil carbon properties, in a long-term chronosequence of 42 streambank revegetation projects in northern California rangelands, varying in restoration age from 1 to 45 years old.
Results
Where revegetation was successful, we found that soil carbon measured to 50 cm depth increased at a rate of 0.87 Mg C ha−1 year−1 on the floodplain and 1.12 Mg C ha−1 year−1 on the upper bank landform. Restored sites also exhibited trends toward increased soil carbon permanence, including an increased C:N ratio and lower fulvic acid: humic acid ratio. Tree and shrub carbon in restored sites was modeled to achieve a 50-year maximum of 187.5 Mg C ha−1 in the channel, 279.3 Mg ha−1 in the floodplain, and 238.66 Mg ha−1 on the upper bank. After 20 years of restoration, the value of this carbon at current per-ton C prices would amount to $US 15,000 per km of restored stream.
Conclusion
We conclude that revegetating rangeland streambanks for erosion control has a substantial additional benefit of mitigating global climate change, and should be considered in carbon accounting and any associated financial compensation mechanisms.
Funder
Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California
11th Hour Foundation
Santa Clara University
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
General Earth and Planetary Sciences,Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous),Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law,Global and Planetary Change
Reference65 articles.
1. Cole LJ, Brocklehurst S, Robertson D, Harrison W, McCracken DI. Riparian buffer strips: their role in the conservation of insect pollinators in intensive grassland systems. Agr Ecosyst Environ. 2015;211:207–20.
2. Kremen C, Williams NM, Bugg RL, Fay JP, Thorp RW. The area requirements of an ecosystem service: crop pollination by native bee communities in California. Ecol Lett. 2004;7(11):1109–19.
3. Langendoen EJ, Richard Lowrance R, Simon A. Assessing the impact of riparian processes on streambank stability. Ecohydrol Ecosyst Land Water Process Interact Ecohydrogeomorphol. 2009;2(3):360–9.
4. Márquez C, García V, Schultz R, Isenhart T. Assessment of soil degradation through soil aggregation and particulate organic matter following conversion of riparian buffer to continuous cultivation. Eur J Soil Sci. 2017;68(3):295–304.
5. Perry LG, Reynolds LV, Beechie TJ, Collins MJ, Shafroth PB. Incorporating climate change projections into riparian restoration planning and design. Ecohydrology. 2015;8(5):863–79.
Cited by
15 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献