Monitoring climate change effects on forestry and agroforestry ecosystems. Giuseppe Scarascia-Mugnozza University of Tuscia, Viterbo

Transcription

1 Roma 13/02/2018

2 Monitoring climate change effects on forestry and agroforestry ecosystems Giuseppe Scarascia-Mugnozza University of Tuscia, Viterbo Roma 13/02/2018

3 Welcome to the Anthropocene Starting from 1950 our planet Earth has entered a new geological era, the Anthropocene Roma 13/02/2018

4 Global environmental changes Atmospheric [CO2] A global experiment never occurred before Increase of [CO 2 ] (and other GHG, NO x, CH 4 ) in the atmosphere ppmv years Climate change Land use change Agro-ecosystems, Forests and Oceans are impacted by global change, but are also part of the solution as they can contribute substantially to mitigation

5 The role of the Biosphere (ex. forests and oceans) is highly relevant, contributing up to 50% to the mitigation of greenhouse gases emissions Roma 13/02/2018

6 Ecosystem service: C-absorption by Italian forests (Carbon sink) Biophysical assessment: 24.7 Mln Importance ton x 0.5 ton C/ton of biomass environmental 12.4 Mln ton C services of forests: up to 2 Billions Economic evaluation (present value of a Carbon credit 20 /ton C): for 12.4 C-sequestration Mln ton C x Mln in Italy in the last few years (INFC 2015) Roma 13/02/2018

7 The Forest issue has never been so popular in media, intergovernmental summits and in global economy, as today

8 Relevant ecosystem services provided by Mediterranean forests & trees! Mitigation: forests sequester ca. 50 Mln ton C per year Water production: up to 75% of water from forest basins Soil protection from erosion and landslides Urban forests remove O 3 and PM 10,5 for better air quality Landscape, recreation, cultural services: 246 Mln tourists per year (most important industry in Mediterranean region)

9 C-flux measuring station in forest meteo/deposition station out of forest

10 Equipments for monitoring forest-air GHG fluxes

11 Annual trend of C-absorption/emission by forests (NEE) NEEday (gc m-2 yr-1) NEEcum (gc m-2) Giorno dell'anno

12 Validation by direct measurements of biomass Biomass above-ground Biomass below-ground Soil organic Carbon

13 LiDAR: animazione Presentation of «Laboratorio pubblico-privato ALForLab» project PON, in Calabria (Italy)

14 Network CarboEurope-IP: ecosystems C-budget 103 Sites for Eddy fluxes 50 forests 28 grasslands 22 agricultural crops 3 others 12 Sites validations Central database

15 Global network FLUXNET 2004 Fluxnet-Canada Carboeurope TCOS Ameriflux Chinaflux Asiaflux LBA CarboAfrica Ozflux

16 ICOS The European Infrastructure on Carbon Observatory ICOS-ERIC has been officially established in November 2015, the first General Assembly met in December. ICOS-ERIC Director nominated and sites labelling started. ERIC members: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Czech Republic, Denmark, UK and Finland, with Switzerland as observer. ICOS ecosystem network The ICOS Ecosystem Thematic Center is coordinated by Italy (CMCC and University of Tuscia) and located in Viterbo. Two additional ETC offices/labs are France (INRA Bordeaux) and Belgium (University of Antwerp). It has the coordination and data processing role. All the measurements are standardized and produced Near Real Time (one day). Near real time CO2 fluxes (last 10 days)

17 Forests have relevant influence on local climate In , forest cover loss caused a biophysical warming on land by about 18% (mainly in arid and semi-arid areas) (Alkama & Cescatti, 2016)

18 But.high temperatures and drought by CC greatly impact on the role of forest as Carbon sink Shift from a period dominated by the positive effects of fertilization to a period characterized by negative impacts of climate change. (Penuelas et al., 2017; Zhao & Running, 2010)

19 Santini M., Collalti A., Valentini R. (Regional Environmental Change, 2014) Likelihood of climate change impacts Ensemble of 20 LPJ simulations (A1B up to 2050) Adopting IPCC likelihood terminology NPP runoff In the Mediterranean region most important effects of Climate Change expected on water scarcity and forest fires C loss by fires

20 Green dream (ScienceNOW Daily News 2009) Green Great Wall (FAO 2015) Geo-engineering: plantation and minimal irrigation of trees and forests may cause a positive impact on regional climate (-4 /-8 C on mean air temperatures) (Ornstein et al., Climatic Change 2009)

21 Great Green Wall Initiative in Sahel and Sahara by AUC, FAO, EU, UN-CCD, WB & many others

22 PHYTOTECHNOLOGIES IN SOUTH-MEDITERRANEAN (Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia) Phytotechnologies use trees and shrubs to restore degraded environments and resources (i.e. soil and water); financed by Italian Cooperation and Italian Ministry of Environment Projects sponsors Scientific & technical partners Université de Mascara In different sites, we developed an integrated approach to reduce water pollution (treating the waste water by constructed wetland) and to promote land rehabilitation (planting trees according to a multipurpose scheme and local needs).

23 Oasis of Brezina (Algeria) Forest plantation with water flowing from phyto-remediation plant (Cupressus sempervirens, Elaeagnus angustifolia, Medicago arborea)

24 Synthesis Important role of forest and agroforestry systems in C- mitigation as well as direct climatic effects Consider the socio-ecological implications of mitigation/adaptation: go landscape! Economic relevance of ecosystem services by forests But..absolute need for monitoring future impacts of changing climate on forest/agroforestry ecosystems International cooperation is a priority! Roma 13/02/2018

25 Thanks to you! Acknowledgements Paolo De Angelis, Università della Tuscia Alberto Del Lungo, FAO Alessio Collalti, CMCC Mauro Centritto, CNR Giorgio Matteucci, CNR Mauro Maesano, CNR