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Mapped aboveground carbon stocks to advance forest conservation and recovery in Malaysian Borneo

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Brodrick, PG 
Vaughn, NR 
Martin, RE 

Abstract

Forest carbon stocks in rapidly developing tropical regions are highly heterogeneous, which challenges efforts to develop spatially-explicit conservation actions. In addition to field-based biodiversity information, mapping of carbon stocks can greatly accelerate the identification, protection and recovery of forests deemed to be of high conservation value (HCV). We combined airborne Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) with satellite imaging and other geospatial data to map forest aboveground carbon density at 30m (0.09ha) resolution throughout the Malaysian state of Sabah on the island of Borneo. We used the mapping results to assess how carbon stocks vary spatially based on forest use, deforestation, regrowth, and current forest protections. We found that unlogged, intact forests contain aboveground carbon densities averaging over 200MgCha−1, with peaks of 500MgCha−1. Critically, more than 40% of the highest carbon stock forests were discovered outside of areas designated for maximum protection. Previously logged forests have suppressed, but still high, carbon densities of 60–140MgCha−1. Our mapped distributions of forest carbon stock suggest that the state of Sabah could double its total aboveground carbon storage if previously logged forests are allowed to recover in the future. Our results guide ongoing efforts to identify HCV forests and to determine new areas for forest protection in Borneo.

Description

Keywords

Borneo, Carbon conservation, Carnegie airborne observatory, Deforestation, Land use history, Forest conservation, Sabah, Selective logging

Journal Title

Biological Conservation

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0006-3207
1873-2917

Volume Title

217

Publisher

Elsevier BV
Sponsorship
Natural Environment Research Council (NE/K016253/1)
Natural Environment Research Council (NE/K016377/1)