Databasing forests for carbon emissions
With the increasing demand for carbon based fuels comes a related increase in carbon emissions and greenhouse gases. One of the primary requirements for all parties involved in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is to report on and monitor carbon emissions. To do so, a recently formed consortium of interests, funded by the European Commission under a JRC Action, has undertaken the development of an online database to monitor the volume of carbon stock. The Allometric Biomass and Carbon (ABC) factors database inventories carbon stock gathered from National Forest Inventories. By doing so, the database offers the means to improve good practice in land management techniques. It provides comprehensive data covering a number of facets such as wood density, expansion and carbon fractions as well as water content. The database performs conversions that allow users to understand carbon stock as a "from what-to what" scenario. This means that carbon stock can be more easily understood as a product having target values to be achieved. When combined with additional monitoring techniques such as remote sensing and forest inventory systems, the Allometric Biomass Carbon database proffers greater accuracy in a more cost effective manner. It will find application in the monitoring of boreal, continental, oceanic, alpine, Mediterranean test sites. Full carbon monitoring and verification procedures from these multi-source outlets will provide the capacity to report on a national or project based level. As an online tool, the database is intended as a tool for national experts.
