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Sub-continental-scale carbon stocks of individual trees in African drylands

Author

Listed:
  • Compton Tucker

    (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)

  • Martin Brandt

    (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
    University of Copenhagen)

  • Pierre Hiernaux

    (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
    Pastoralisme Conseil)

  • Ankit Kariryaa

    (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
    University of Copenhagen
    University of Copenhagen)

  • Kjeld Rasmussen

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Jennifer Small

    (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
    NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)

  • Christian Igel

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Florian Reiner

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Katherine Melocik

    (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
    NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)

  • Jesse Meyer

    (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
    NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)

  • Scott Sinno

    (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
    NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)

  • Eric Romero

    (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
    NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)

  • Erin Glennie

    (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
    NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)

  • Yasmin Fitts

    (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
    NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)

  • August Morin

    (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
    NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)

  • Jorge Pinzon

    (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
    NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)

  • Devin McClain

    (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
    NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)

  • Paul Morin

    (University of Minnesota)

  • Claire Porter

    (University of Minnesota)

  • Shane Loeffler

    (University of Minnesota)

  • Laurent Kergoat

    (Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées, UMR 5563 (CNRS/UPS/IRD/CNES))

  • Bil-Assanou Issoufou

    (Dan Dicko Dankoulodo University of Maradi)

  • Patrice Savadogo

    (FAO Subregional Office for West Africa)

  • Jean-Pierre Wigneron

    (ISPA, UMR 1391, INRAE Nouvelle-Aquitaine Bordeaux)

  • Benjamin Poulter

    (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)

  • Philippe Ciais

    (CEA-CNRS-UVSQ, CE Orme des Merisiers)

  • Robert Kaufmann

    (Boston University)

  • Ranga Myneni

    (Boston University)

  • Sassan Saatchi

    (California Institute of Technology)

  • Rasmus Fensholt

    (University of Copenhagen)

Abstract

The distribution of dryland trees and their density, cover, size, mass and carbon content are not well known at sub-continental to continental scales1–14. This information is important for ecological protection, carbon accounting, climate mitigation and restoration efforts of dryland ecosystems15–18. We assessed more than 9.9 billion trees derived from more than 300,000 satellite images, covering semi-arid sub-Saharan Africa north of the Equator. We attributed wood, foliage and root carbon to every tree in the 0–1,000 mm year−1 rainfall zone by coupling field data19, machine learning20–22, satellite data and high-performance computing. Average carbon stocks of individual trees ranged from 0.54 Mg C ha−1 and 63 kg C tree−1 in the arid zone to 3.7 Mg C ha−1 and 98 kg tree−1 in the sub-humid zone. Overall, we estimated the total carbon for our study area to be 0.84 (±19.8%) Pg C. Comparisons with 14 previous TRENDY numerical simulation studies23 for our area found that the density and carbon stocks of scattered trees have been underestimated by three models and overestimated by 11 models, respectively. This benchmarking can help understand the carbon cycle and address concerns about land degradation24–29. We make available a linked database of wood mass, foliage mass, root mass and carbon stock of each tree for scientists, policymakers, dryland-restoration practitioners and farmers, who can use it to estimate farmland tree carbon stocks from tablets or laptops.

Suggested Citation

  • Compton Tucker & Martin Brandt & Pierre Hiernaux & Ankit Kariryaa & Kjeld Rasmussen & Jennifer Small & Christian Igel & Florian Reiner & Katherine Melocik & Jesse Meyer & Scott Sinno & Eric Romero & E, 2023. "Sub-continental-scale carbon stocks of individual trees in African drylands," Nature, Nature, vol. 615(7950), pages 80-86, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:615:y:2023:i:7950:d:10.1038_s41586-022-05653-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05653-6
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    Cited by:

    1. Tiago Conto & John Armston & Ralph Dubayah, 2024. "Characterizing the structural complexity of the Earth’s forests with spaceborne lidar," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, December.

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