Quantitative Evaluation of Carbon-Cycle-Services from Forest Ecosystem Using a Forest Biogeochemical Model (BGC-ES)

Abstract

The most important forest ecosystem services with regard to the carbon cycle?biomass production and carbon sequestration rate?were evaluated using a process-based biogeochemical model of forest ecosystem (BGC-ES). The location and characteristics of the forest in the Ise Bay basin were collected into a GIS database. 5-km mesh distributions of the forest ecosystem were evaluated for the period of 1960s?2040s under two different scenarios: continued forest management (FM scenario) and discontinued forest management practices from 1990 (Unmanaged scenario). The ES showed a peak in the 1980s?2000s owing to the extensive conversion of the forests in 1960. Further, the ES were estimated to decrease in the future under the unmanaged scenario.