Valuation of ecosystem services in the organic carbon of the Pinus densiflora forest at Mt. Namsan, Seoul Metropolitan City

Abstract

Abstract Background Standing biomass, litter production, rate of litter decomposition, amount of litter on forest floor, and amount of soil organic carbon distribution were investigated from March 2016 to November 2018 in order to evaluate the ecosystem value through organic carbon distribution in the Pinus densiflora forest at Namsan, Seoul Metropolitan City. Results The amount of organic carbon in the Pinus densiflora forest was 261.09 ton C ha−1 during the research period, and fixed organic carbon in plant through net photosynthesis was 3.2 ton C ha−1 year−1. The organic carbon in plant was 62.77 ton C ha−1 (24.04%), in litter on the forest floor was 3.65 ton C ha−1 (1.40%), and in soil was 194.67 ton C ha−1 (74.56%). The value of plant, litter on forest floor, and soil organic carbon distribution were each 6,277,000 won ha−1, 365,000 won ha−1, and 19,467,000 won ha−1. The value per ton of fixed organic carbon in plant through net photosynthesis was 320,000 won ha−1 year−1 and the value of ecosystem services stored in carbon in the Namsan forest ecosystem was about 26.1 million won ha−1 for 3 years. Conclusions The results of this study suggest that the pine forests of Namsan rapidly decompose leaves due to the high atmospheric temperature and accumulate a large amount of organic carbon in the soil to provide climate control regulatory service function.