Developing a National-level System for Simulating the Carbon Dynamics of Hinoki (Chamaecyparis obtusa ) Planted Forests in Japan(<Special Issue>FORCOM 2011)

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to develop a national-level system for simulating the carbon dynamics of planted forests of hinoki, which is the second most important plantation species in Japan, and to discuss the effects of forestry on the carbon dynamics of hinoki planted forests at a national scale. We developed a simulation system consisting of a 1-km-grid national-level forest database and a stand-level carbon cycle model. We simulated the forest carbon dynamics for 2005 to 2050 at a national scale using the developed simulation system with estimated climatic values and harvested timber volumes. The results of simulations indicated that the promotion of forestry leads to a decrease in both total carbon stocks and total carbon sequestration for hinoki planted forests in Japan. Longer-term simulation is required to evaluate the effects of clearcutting and subsequent replanting on the carbon dynamics of Japan's forests.