Assessment of the overall carbon storage in a teak plantation in Kanchanaburi province, Thailand – Implications for carbon-based incentives

Abstract

Management of teak plantation can contribute to global sustainability. The objective of this study is to assess the overall carbon storage through forest management in a teak plantation at Thong Pha Phum in Thailand from the time of planting to final felling. We collected field data from 30 quadrat sample plots of 30 m × 30 m size in teak plantations of different age classes – 17, 24, 31, and 35 years. Accordingly, carbon stocks of the standing trees were analyzed using the allometric equations. The decay function was used to assess carbon storage in the harvested wood products (HWPs) over a 100-year period. Historical thinning activities and intensity were constructed using a combination of key-informant interviews and the logistic growth model. The average carbon storage was 63.3 MgC ha−1, 42% of which were stored in the HWPs. If global Teak forests are managed, emission reductions could be equivalent up to 30.7% of the European Union's Emission Reduction Target by 2030. Carbon-based revenues were US$2219 ha−1 year−1 depending on the chosen carbon prices. We conclude that management of Teak plantation can mitigate climate change, thereby contributing to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals 13 and 15 and the Paris Agreement.

Keywords

• Carbon stocks
• Forest management
• Harvested wood products
• Teak plantation
• Carbon-based revenues