Measuring Carbon Stocks Across Land Use Systems: A Manual

Carbon stocks of forests, agroforestry systems and other land uses have become of interest to many stakeholders in the global debate on greenhouse gas emissions and efforts to reduce such emissions. This manual evolved from efforts in the early 1990s when the Alternative to Slash and Burn (ASB) program started efforts to collect consistent data across the humid tropics. The Manual is consistent with the Good Practice Guideline (GPG) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that is to be used for national accounting of carbon stocks and greenhouse gas emissions. The first part discusses reasons for measurement of carbon stocks across land use systems, at multiple temporal and spatial scales. Part 2 proved a 7-step rapid carbon appraisal process (RaCSA), combining analysis of remote sensing imagery and a nested-design for sampling trees, understorey, litter and other necromass, roots and soil organic matter. Allometric relationships between tree dimater and total biomass are discussed in relation to wood density. A case study describes all steps for the Kali Konto watershed in East Java (Indonesia)