IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcli/v11y2021i3d10.1038_s41558-020-00976-6.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Global maps of twenty-first century forest carbon fluxes

Author

Listed:
  • Nancy L. Harris

    (World Resources Institute)

  • David A. Gibbs

    (World Resources Institute)

  • Alessandro Baccini

    (Woodwell Climate Research Center
    Boston University)

  • Richard A. Birdsey

    (Woodwell Climate Research Center)

  • Sytze Bruin

    (Wageningen University and Research)

  • Mary Farina

    (Woodwell Climate Research Center
    Montana State University)

  • Lola Fatoyinbo

    (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)

  • Matthew C. Hansen

    (University of Maryland)

  • Martin Herold

    (Wageningen University and Research)

  • Richard A. Houghton

    (Woodwell Climate Research Center)

  • Peter V. Potapov

    (University of Maryland)

  • Daniela Requena Suarez

    (Wageningen University and Research)

  • Rosa M. Roman-Cuesta

    (Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR))

  • Sassan S. Saatchi

    (California Institute of Technology
    University of California)

  • Christy M. Slay

    (University of Arkansas)

  • Svetlana A. Turubanova

    (University of Maryland)

  • Alexandra Tyukavina

    (University of Maryland)

Abstract

Managing forests for climate change mitigation requires action by diverse stakeholders undertaking different activities with overlapping objectives and spatial impacts. To date, several forest carbon monitoring systems have been developed for different regions using various data, methods and assumptions, making it difficult to evaluate mitigation performance consistently across scales. Here, we integrate ground and Earth observation data to map annual forest-related greenhouse gas emissions and removals globally at a spatial resolution of 30 m over the years 2001–2019. We estimate that global forests were a net carbon sink of −7.6 ± 49 GtCO2e yr−1, reflecting a balance between gross carbon removals (−15.6 ± 49 GtCO2e yr−1) and gross emissions from deforestation and other disturbances (8.1 ± 2.5 GtCO2e yr−1). The geospatial monitoring framework introduced here supports climate policy development by promoting alignment and transparency in setting priorities and tracking collective progress towards forest-specific climate mitigation goals with both local detail and global consistency.

Suggested Citation

  • Nancy L. Harris & David A. Gibbs & Alessandro Baccini & Richard A. Birdsey & Sytze Bruin & Mary Farina & Lola Fatoyinbo & Matthew C. Hansen & Martin Herold & Richard A. Houghton & Peter V. Potapov & D, 2021. "Global maps of twenty-first century forest carbon fluxes," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 11(3), pages 234-240, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:11:y:2021:i:3:d:10.1038_s41558-020-00976-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41558-020-00976-6
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-020-00976-6
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41558-020-00976-6?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Austin, K.G. & Mosnier, A. & Pirker, J. & McCallum, I. & Fritz, S. & Kasibhatla, P.S., 2017. "Shifting patterns of oil palm driven deforestation in Indonesia and implications for zero-deforestation commitments," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 41-48.
    2. Tomislav Hengl & Jorge Mendes de Jesus & Gerard B M Heuvelink & Maria Ruiperez Gonzalez & Milan Kilibarda & Aleksandar Blagotić & Wei Shangguan & Marvin N Wright & Xiaoyuan Geng & Bernhard Bauer-Marsc, 2017. "SoilGrids250m: Global gridded soil information based on machine learning," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(2), pages 1-40, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Joan P. Casas-Ruiz & Pascal Bodmer & Kelly Ann Bona & David Butman & Mathilde Couturier & Erik J. S. Emilson & Kerri Finlay & Hélène Genet & Daniel Hayes & Jan Karlsson & David Paré & Changhui Peng & , 2023. "Integrating terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems to constrain estimates of land-atmosphere carbon exchange," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-17, December.
    2. Julia Noë & Karl-Heinz Erb & Sarah Matej & Andreas Magerl & Manan Bhan & Simone Gingrich, 2021. "Altered growth conditions more than reforestation counteracted forest biomass carbon emissions 1990–2020," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Hunggul Yudono Setio Hadi Nugroho & Yonky Indrajaya & Satria Astana & Murniati & Sri Suharti & Tyas Mutiara Basuki & Tri Wira Yuwati & Pamungkas Buana Putra & Budi Hadi Narendra & Luthfy Abdulah & Tit, 2023. "A Chronicle of Indonesia’s Forest Management: A Long Step towards Environmental Sustainability and Community Welfare," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-62, June.
    4. Dietz, Julia & Treydte, Anna Christina & Lippe, Melvin, 2023. "Exploring the future of Kafue National Park, Zambia: Scenario-based land use and land cover modelling to understand drivers and impacts of deforestation," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    5. Linghua Qiu & Junhao He & Chao Yue & Philippe Ciais & Chunmiao Zheng, 2024. "Substantial terrestrial carbon emissions from global expansion of impervious surface area," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    6. Genovaitė Liobikienė & Astrida Miceikienė, 2023. "Contribution of the European Bioeconomy Strategy to the Green Deal Policy: Challenges and Opportunities in Implementing These Policies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-14, April.
    7. L. Duncanson & M. Liang & V. Leitold & J. Armston & S. M. Krishna Moorthy & R. Dubayah & S. Costedoat & B. J. Enquist & L. Fatoyinbo & S. J. Goetz & M. Gonzalez-Roglich & C. Merow & P. R. Roehrdanz & , 2023. "The effectiveness of global protected areas for climate change mitigation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.
    8. Jessica Stubenrauch & Beatrice Garske & Felix Ekardt & Katharina Hagemann, 2022. "European Forest Governance: Status Quo and Optimising Options with Regard to the Paris Climate Target," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-35, April.
    9. Yu, Zhihan & Ning, Zhuo & Chang, Wei-Yew & Chang, Sun Joseph & Yang, Hongqiang, 2023. "Optimal harvest decisions for the management of carbon sequestration forests under price uncertainty and risk preferences," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    10. Gren, Ing-Marie, 2024. "A trading market for uncertain carbon removal by land use in the EU," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    11. Bergkvist, John & Lagergren, Fredrik & Linderson, Maj-Lena Finnander & Miller, Paul & Lindeskog, Mats & Jönsson, Anna Maria, 2023. "Modelling managed forest ecosystems in Sweden: An evaluation from the stand to the regional scale," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 477(C).
    12. Eric C. Davis & Brent Sohngen & David J. Lewis, 2022. "The effect of carbon fertilization on naturally regenerated and planted US forests," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    13. Chervier, Colas & Ximenes, Arimatéa C. & Mihigo, Blaise-Pascal Ntirumenyerwa & Doumenge, Charles, 2024. "Impact of industrial logging concession on deforestation and forest degradation in the DRC," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    14. Elisa Toledo & Wilman Santiago Ochoa-Moreno & Rafael Alvarado & Lizeth Cuesta & Muntasir Murshed & Abdul Rehman, 2022. "Forest Area: Old and New Factors That Affect Its Dynamics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-17, March.
    15. Lea Dorgeist & Clemens Schwingshackl & Selma Bultan & Julia Pongratz, 2024. "A consistent budgeting of terrestrial carbon fluxes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    16. Bing Wang & Xiang Niu & Tingyu Xu, 2023. "Identifying the Full Carbon Sink of Forest Vegetation: A Case Study in the Three Northeast Provinces of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-13, June.
    17. Tiehu He & Weixin Ding & Xiaoli Cheng & Yanjiang Cai & Yulong Zhang & Huijuan Xia & Xia Wang & Jiehao Zhang & Kerong Zhang & Quanfa Zhang, 2024. "Meta-analysis shows the impacts of ecological restoration on greenhouse gas emissions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.
    18. Denis J. Murphy, 2024. "Carbon Sequestration by Tropical Trees and Crops: A Case Study of Oil Palm," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-31, July.
    19. Gao, Ming, 2023. "The impacts of carbon trading policy on China's low-carbon economy based on county-level perspectives," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    20. Dongfan Xu & Jialong Zhang & Rui Bao & Yi Liao & Dongyang Han & Qianwei Liu & Tao Cheng, 2021. "Temporal and Spatial Variation of Aboveground Biomass of Pinus densata and Its Drivers in Shangri-La, CHINA," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-17, December.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Nina Tiel & Fabian Fopp & Philipp Brun & Johan Hoogen & Dirk Nikolaus Karger & Cecilia M. Casadei & Lisha Lyu & Devis Tuia & Niklaus E. Zimmermann & Thomas W. Crowther & Loïc Pellissier, 2024. "Regional uniqueness of tree species composition and response to forest loss and climate change," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Elliott R. Dossou-Yovo & Sander J. Zwart & Amadou Kouyaté & Ibrahima Ouédraogo & Oladele Bakare, 2018. "Predictors of Drought in Inland Valley Landscapes and Enabling Factors for Rice Farmers’ Mitigation Measures in the Sudan-Sahel Zone," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-17, December.
    3. Benjamin S. Thompson, 2023. "Impact investing in biodiversity conservation with bonds: An analysis of financial and environmental risk," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(1), pages 353-368, January.
    4. Linghua Qiu & Junhao He & Chao Yue & Philippe Ciais & Chunmiao Zheng, 2024. "Substantial terrestrial carbon emissions from global expansion of impervious surface area," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    5. Fitri Nurfatriani & Ramawati & Galih Kartika Sari & Heru Komarudin, 2019. "Optimization of Crude Palm Oil Fund to Support Smallholder Oil Palm Replanting in Reducing Deforestation in Indonesia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-16, September.
    6. Huang, Yawen & Tao, Bo & Lal, Rattan & Lorenz, Klaus & Jacinthe, Pierre-Andre & Shrestha, Raj K. & Bai, Xiongxiong & Singh, Maninder P. & Lindsey, Laura E. & Ren, Wei, 2023. "A global synthesis of biochar's sustainability in climate-smart agriculture - Evidence from field and laboratory experiments," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    7. Mark A. Anthony & Leho Tedersoo & Bruno Vos & Luc Croisé & Henning Meesenburg & Markus Wagner & Henning Andreae & Frank Jacob & Paweł Lech & Anna Kowalska & Martin Greve & Genoveva Popova & Beat Frey , 2024. "Fungal community composition predicts forest carbon storage at a continental scale," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    8. Livia Marchetti & Valentina Cattivelli & Claudia Cocozza & Fabio Salbitano & Marco Marchetti, 2020. "Beyond Sustainability in Food Systems: Perspectives from Agroecology and Social Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-24, September.
    9. Tong Qiu & Robert Andrus & Marie-Claire Aravena & Davide Ascoli & Yves Bergeron & Roberta Berretti & Daniel Berveiller & Michal Bogdziewicz & Thomas Boivin & Raul Bonal & Don C. Bragg & Thomas Caignar, 2022. "Limits to reproduction and seed size-number trade-offs that shape forest dominance and future recovery," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    10. Joachim Maes & Adrián G. Bruzón & José I. Barredo & Sara Vallecillo & Peter Vogt & Inés Marí Rivero & Fernando Santos-Martín, 2023. "Accounting for forest condition in Europe based on an international statistical standard," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-15, December.
    11. Telmo José Mendes & Diego Silva Siqueira & Eduardo Barretto Figueiredo & Ricardo de Oliveira Bordonal & Mara Regina Moitinho & José Marques Júnior & Newton La Scala Jr., 2021. "Soil carbon stock estimations: methods and a case study of the Maranhão State, Brazil," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(11), pages 16410-16427, November.
    12. Pere Mercadé‐Melé & Carmina Fandos‐Herrera & Sofía Velasco‐Gómez, 2021. "How corporate social responsibility influences consumer behavior: An empirical analysis in the Spanish agrifood sector," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 37(3), pages 590-611, July.
    13. Joachim Eisenberg & Fabrice A. Muvundja, 2020. "Quantification of Erosion in Selected Catchment Areas of the Ruzizi River (DRC) Using the (R)USLE Model," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-18, April.
    14. Banerjee, Onil & Crossman, Neville & Vargas, Renato & Brander, Luke & Verburg, Peter & Cicowiez, Martin & Hauck, Jennifer & McKenzie, Emily, 2020. "Global socio-economic impacts of changes in natural capital and ecosystem services: State of play and new modeling approaches," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 46(C).
    15. Sarah R. Weiskopf & Forest Isbell & Maria Isabel Arce-Plata & Moreno Di Marco & Mike Harfoot & Justin Johnson & Susannah B. Lerman & Brian W. Miller & Toni Lyn Morelli & Akira S. Mori & Ensheng Weng &, 2024. "Biodiversity loss reduces global terrestrial carbon storage," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    16. Peter Bossew & Giorgia Cinelli & Giancarlo Ciotoli & Quentin G. Crowley & Marc De Cort & Javier Elío Medina & Valeria Gruber & Eric Petermann & Tore Tollefsen, 2020. "Development of a Geogenic Radon Hazard Index—Concept, History, Experiences," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-23, June.
    17. Carlos Manuel Hernández & Aliou Faye & Mamadou Ousseynou Ly & Zachary P. Stewart & P. V. Vara Prasad & Leonardo Mendes Bastos & Luciana Nieto & Ana J. P. Carcedo & Ignacio Antonio Ciampitti, 2021. "Soil and Climate Characterization to Define Environments for Summer Crops in Senegal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-17, October.
    18. Farida Yulistianingrum, 2019. "The Effect of Forest Fires and Oil Palm Plantations on Green House Gases (GHG) Emissions in Indonesia," Working Papers in Economics and Development Studies (WoPEDS) 201909, Department of Economics, Padjadjaran University, revised Dec 2019.
    19. Lee, Janice Ser Huay & Miteva, Daniela A. & Carlson, Kimberly M. & Heilmayr, Robert & Saif, Omar, 2020. "Does the oil palm certification create trade-offs between environment and development in Indonesia?," SocArXiv zrwpd, Center for Open Science.
    20. Ravic Nijbroek & Kristin Piikki & Mats Söderström & Bas Kempen & Katrine G. Turner & Simeon Hengari & John Mutua, 2018. "Soil Organic Carbon Baselines for Land Degradation Neutrality: Map Accuracy and Cost Tradeoffs with Respect to Complexity in Otjozondjupa, Namibia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-20, May.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:11:y:2021:i:3:d:10.1038_s41558-020-00976-6. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.