Abstract

This study quantifies the amount of carbon stored and sequestered by vegetation in west Africa, carbon loss due to tree cover loss, and the potential natural sequestration relative to projected carbon emissions in 2030. GIS analysis of published data on vegetation biomass, tree cover, sequestration by vegetation and soil carbon indicate that vegetation and soil held 38,855 Mt of carbon in 2010, most of which was in above and below ground vegetation. The loss of 58,353 km² (9%) of tree cover between 2010 and 2018 resulted in the loss of 672 Mt of 14,923 Mt carbon in vegetation. Key Biodiversity Areas, (sites of conservation importance), covered 7.4% of land but in 2010 contained 16% of carbon stored in vegetation. Trees sequestered between 23.6 and 53.6 Mt of carbon in 2018 (17% of which was in Key Biodiversity Areas). Restoration of the tree cover lost in west Africa between 2010 and 2018 could sequester an additional 27.5 Mt of carbon per annum during the first 30 years of growth. Our estimates indicate a combination of conservation and restoration of tree cover could sequester the equivalent of c.30% of projected 2030 regional emissions, contributing significantly towards mitigating climate change.

摘要

本研究量化了西非植被储存和封存的碳量、树木覆盖损失导致的碳损失，以及与 2030 年预计碳排放相关的潜在自然封存。 对已发表的植被生物量、树木覆盖、封存数据的 GIS 分析按植被和土壤碳分析表明，2010 年植被和土壤的碳储量为 38,855 Mt，其中大部分为地上和地下植被。损失 58,353 公里²2010 年至 2018 年期间（9%）的树木覆盖导致植被中的 14,923 Mt 碳损失了 672 Mt。关键生物多样性区（具有重要保护意义的地点）覆盖了 7.4% 的土地，但在 2010 年包含 16% 的碳储存在植被中。2018 年树木固碳量介于 23.6 至 53.6 Mt 之间（其中 17% 位于关键生物多样性区域）。恢复 2010 年至 2018 年间在西非失去的树木覆盖，可以在增长的前 30 年间每年额外吸收 27.5 公吨的碳。我们的估计表明，将保护和恢复树木覆盖相结合可以隔离相当于 2030 年预计区域排放量的 30% 左右，为减缓气候变化做出重大贡献。