CARTOGRAPHIC SUPPORT THE CARBON BUDGET ESTIMATIONS OF FOREST ECOSYSTEMS

Abstract

Forests are one of the most common and productive types of terrestrial ecosystems, with a significant contribution to the carbon budget of the atmosphere. Forests are recognized as the most reliable system to prevent the greenhouse effect, taking into consideration the scale of carbon sequestration and, especially, the long period of accumulation. Long life cycle of major forest tree species and the slow biological turnover of substances in ecosystems of the boreal and temperate zone contribute to the accumulation of carbon not only in forest biomass, but also in the detritus, humus forest soils and peat. Due to long term accumulation of stored carbon in forest ecosystems is achieved by the biosphere effect associated with the absorption of greenhouse gases and the prevention of changes in the climate system of the Earth. The aim of our study was to identify the carbon budget units at the regional level by GIS, to assess the resource and ecological potential of forests and to map the results of model calculations of forest carbon sequestration and carbon balance at the regional level.

Keywords

• carbon sequestration by forests
• forests ecosystem services
• carbon budget
• GIS
• thematic maps.