AMAZON BIOMASS IN THE CARBON CYCLE - BRASIL. Professor Jorge Paladino Correa de Lima, PhD Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro Brasil

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2 AMAZON BIOMASS IN THE CARBON CYCLE - BRASIL Professor Jorge Paladino Correa de Lima, PhD Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro Brasil

3 AMAZON BIOMES BIOMASS CARBON CYCLE Prof. Jorge Palladino C Lima, PhD UFRRJ - July 2014

4 OBJECTIVES This study has the main objective of presenting: Brazilian Biomes Amazon Biomass (all estimates indexed by latitude and longitude). UFRRJ

5 BIOMES- Are areas whose communities did reach their maximum development stage, Called Climax Stage. In order to consider a BIOME, it should present a typical fauna and flora incidence as well as similar climatic conditions though all its extension. Amazon Caatinga Cerrado Pantanal Pampa Atlantic

6 UFRRJ Áreas by Biomes (Km2) (1) (2) Biomes Veg. Remaining Anthropized Area Water Total by Biome/BR Km2 % Km2 % Km2 % Km2 % AMAZÔNIA BIOME ,05 81, ,49 16, ,93 2, ,46 49,28 MATA ATLÂNTICA BIOME ,58 11, ,69 86, ,71 1, ,98 13,04 CERRADO BIOME ,23 42, ,19 57, ,55 0, ,97 23,92 CAATINGA BIOME ,76 60, ,83 38, ,79 0, ,38 9,92 PANTANAL BIOME ,75 89, ,92 9, ,42 1, ,08 1,77 PAMPA BIOME ,98 58, ,99 33, ,77 7, ,73 2,07 Total for Brasil (3) ,33 60, ,11 37, ,16 1, , (1) From Brazill Biomes Map Scale 1: IBGE- Brazil. (2) Average data of reference: N and CO Region NE and S Region (3) Total Area for Brazil according to IBGE

7 Areas by Biomass UFRRJ

8 Áreas by Biomes (Km2) (1) (2) BIOME AMAZÔNIA ÁREA = ,4619 Km2 (49,29 %) Vegetation Types Área Remaining Área Anthropized Water Bioma Total Km 2 % Km 2 % Km 2 % Km 2 % Dense Ombrophilous Forest ,70 84, ,82 15, ,52 50,08 Open Ombrophilous Forest ,26 83, ,60 16, ,85 22,88 Seasonal Semideciduous Forest 20, ,39 79, ,18 1,62 Seasonal Deciduous Forest 4.490,57 73, ,47 26, ,04 0,15 Campinarana , ,48 2,55 Savanna ,18 95, ,03 4, ,21 2,45 Steppic Savanna , ,21 0,24 Pioneer Formations , ,64 2,13 Contacts among Vegetation Types ,60 81, ,18 18, ,78 15,41 Vegetational Refuges 3.189, ,62 0,08 Water Surface , ,93 2,41 Biome Total Area (3) ,05 81, ,49 16, ,93 2, , (1) From Brazil Biomes Map Scale 1: IBGE, (2) Average data of reference: N and CO Region NE and S Region SE Region (3) Total Area for Brazil according to Resolution from IBGE Pre

9 Biome Amazonia

10 Áreas by Biomes (Km2) (1) (2) BIOME CERRADO ÁREA = ,9694 Km2 (23,92 %) Vegetation Types Área Remaining Área Anthropized Water BiomeTotal Km 2 % Km 2 % Km 2 % Km 2 % Dense Ombrophilous Forest 3,51 100,00 3,51 0,00 Seasonal Semideciduous Forest 9.012,27 24, ,94 75, ,21 1,78 Seasonal Deciduous Forest ,98 23, ,70 76, ,68 6,83 Savanna ,42 44, ,14 55, ,55 67,26 Steppic Savanna 653,08 100,00 653,08 0,03 Pioneer Formations 9.564,39 100, ,39 0,47 Contacts among Vegetation Types ,02 41, ,41 58, ,43 22,81 Vegetational Refuges 4.791,57 100, ,57 0,24 Water Surface , ,55 0,59 Biome Total Area (3) ,23 42, ,19 57, ,55 0, , (1) From Brasil Biomes Map Scale 1: IBGE, (2) Average data of reference: N and CO Region ; NE and S Region ; SE Region (3) Total Area for Brasil according to Resolution from IBGE

11 Biome Cerrado UFRRJ

12 Areas by Biomes (Km2) (1) (2) BIOME MATA ATLÂNTICA AREA = ,9763 Km2 (13,04 %) Vegetation Types Área Remaining Área Anthropized Water Biome Total Km 2 % Km 2 % Km 2 % Km 2 % Dense Ombrophilous Forest ,30 16, ,36 83, ,66 18,94 Open Ombrophilous Forest ,19 100, ,19 1,50 Mixed Ombrophilous Forest ,20 8, ,85 91, ,05 15,10 Seasonal Semideciduous Forest 4.391,36 0, ,31 99, ,67 40,54 Seasonal Deciduous Forest 543,77 0, ,11 99, ,88 8,26 Savanna ,25 61, ,68 38, ,93 2,13 Steppic Savanna 683, ,55 0,06 Steppe ,10 70, ,43 29, ,54 4,47 Pioneer Formations 9.983,93 70, ,47 29, ,40 1,27 Contacts among Vegetation Types ,99 16, ,29 83, ,27 5,81 Vegetational Refuges 123, ,13 0,01 Water Surface , ,71 1,90 Biome Total Area (3) ,58 11, ,69 86, ,71 1, , (1) From Brazil Biomes Map Scale 1: IBGE, (2) Average data of reference: N and CO Region ; NE and S Region ; SE Region. (3) Total Area for Brazil according to Resolution from IBGE

13 Biome Mata Atlantica UFRRJ

14 Areas by Biomes (Km2) (1) (2) BIOME CAATINGA AREA = ,3770 Km2 (9,92 %) Vegetation Types Área Remaining Área Anthropized Water Biome Total Km 2 % Km 2 % Km 2 % Km 2 % Dense Ombrophilous Forest 320, ,94 0,04 Open Ombrophilous Forest 4.202, ,69 0,50 Seasonal Semideciduous Forest 1.229,91 7, ,71 92, ,62 1,89 Seasonal Deciduous Forest 2.915,40 15, ,11 84, ,51 2,18 Savanna ,24 83, ,08 16, ,32 2,03 Steppic Savanna ,94 63, ,65 36, ,59 66,14 Pioneer Formations 2.605,56 62, ,95 37, ,51 0,50 Contacts among Vegetation Types ,97 60, ,70 39, ,67 25,19 Vegetational Refuges 5.117, ,74 0,61 Water Surface 8.001, ,79 0,95 Biome Total Area (3) ,76 60, ,83 38, ,79 0, , (1) From Brazil Biomes Map Scale 1: IBGE, (2) Average data of reference: N and CO Region ; NE and S Region SE Region. (3) Total Area for Brazil according to Resolution from IBGE

15 Biome Caatinga UFRRJ

16 Áreas by Biomes (Km2) (1) (2) BIOME PAMPA AREA = ,7349 Km2 (2,07 %) Vegetation Types Área Remaining Área Anthropized Water Biome Total Km 2 % Km 2 % Km 2 % Km 2 % Seasonal Semideciduous Forest 6.209, ,67 3,52 Seasonal Deciduous Forest 3.339, ,98 1,89 Steppic Savanna 428,34 26, ,01 73, ,35 0,91 Steppe ,01 82, ,48 17, ,49 69,51 Pioneer Formations 2.033,12 9, ,41 90, ,53 11,88 Contacts among Vegetation Types 393,51 5, ,45 94, ,96 4,34 Water Surface , ,77 7,95 Biome Total Area (3) ,98 58, ,99 33, ,77 7, , (1) From Brazil Biomes Map Scale 1: IBGE, (2) Average data of reference: N and CO Region ; NE and S Region ; SE Region (3) Total Area for Brazil according to Resolution from IBGE

17 Biome Pampa UFRRJ

18 Áreas by Biomes (Km2) (1) (2) BIOME PANTANAL AREA = ,0806 Km2 (1,77 %) Vegetation Types Area Remaining Area Anthropized Water Biome Total Km 2 % Km 2 % Km 2 % Km 2 % Seasonal Semideciduous Forest 404, ,15 0,27 Seasonal Deciduous Forest 1.656,11 52, ,60 47, ,71 2,08 Savanna ,30 89, ,36 10, ,66 69,19 Steppic Savanna 9.834,88 83, ,96 16, ,84 7,85 Contacts among Vegetation Types , ,30 19,36 Water Surface 1.869, ,42 1,24 Biome Total Area (3) ,75 89, ,92 9, ,42 1, , (1) From Brazil Biomes Map Scale 1: IBGE, Edition. (2) Average data of reference: N and CO Region ; NE and S Region ; SE Region (3) Total Area for Brazil according to Resolution from IBGE

19 Biome Pantanal UFRRJ

20 Biomass Tropical forest conversion, shifting cultivation and clearing of secondary vegetation make significant contributions to global emissions of greenhouse gases today, and have the potential for large additional emissions in future decades, but there are a number of controversies surrounding both biomass estimation and carbon balance in tropical forests

21 The quantity of biomass in a forest is a result of the difference between production through photosynthesis and consumption by respiration and harvest process. Thus it is a useful measure for assessing changes in forest structure. Changes in forest biomass density are brought about by natural succession; human activities such as silviculture, harvesting, and degradation; and natural impacts by wildlife and climate change. Biomass density is also a useful variable for comparing structural and functional attributes of forest ecosystems across a wide range of environmental conditions. (FAO, 1997). Biomass represents the potential amount of carbon that can be added to atmosphere as carbon dioxide when the forest is cleared and/or burned. Biomass density estimates also provide the means for calculating the amount of carbon dioxide that can be removed from the atmosphere by re-growing forests or by plantations because they establish the rates of biomass production and the upper bound for carbon sequestering. Biomass is defined as the total amount of aboveground living organic matter in trees expressed as oven-dry tons per unit area (FAO, 1997).

22 Biomass Restoration Practices Conservation Practices Using Biological Measures There are numerous systems of replanting that can be used in the different situations of degradation usually seen in a work area (region, county, micro-watershed, etc.). It is worth remembering that several biomass re-composition systems can be used in a given area, depending on the pre-existence or otherwise of vegetation coverage, and its characteristics. Biomass restoration is defined here as mixed planting with the maximum possible diversity of native species, in order to restore both the forest s structure and its dynamic an action that is especially appropriate for disturbed or degraded areas.. Random Planting Model It is therefore a model that ignores differences between the groups of species in the ecological succession; it considers all species to be equal when competing with each other, and that there are no differential demands between the species, basically in terms of luminosity or shade. Successional Model The biomass successional model separates species into ecological groups and places them in plantation models such that the earliest species in the succession provide enough shade for species in the later stages. The way these conditions occur in the plantation can vary, depending on how the plants are arranged in the field, whether in modules or in plantation lines. 1. Modules - arrangement in modules assumes a central base-plant, of a species chosen from the final groups of the succession, surrounded by four or more shade-giving plants (initial groups). 2. Lines - this can be done using alternating lines, with one being a pioneer (pioneers and initial secondaries) and the other non-pioneers (later secondary and climax).

23 Seedling Modules This is a practice used in the enrichment system or in planting, where a combination of species chosen for biomass recovery is established in the field, thereby guaranteeing secondary succession mechanisms in each unit area. Dense Plantation The system is used in the biomass restoration of degraded areas in Japan and was introduced in Brazil on degraded hillside areas in the state of Rio de Janeiro. The spacing used is 1m x 1m, which is equivalent to 10,000 seedlings per hectare. Continuous lines of pioneer species are planted, together with lines containing mixed pioneer and non-pioneer species. As a result, pioneer plants, whose function is to provide with shade, surround each non-pioneer. It is also important to ensure homogeneous distribution of species of biotic (zoochoric) and abiotic (anemochoric) seed dispersion. Maintained a proportion of 1:6 between non-pioneer and pioneer species, thereby simulating conditions existing in secondary areas, where colonizing species from more open areas predominate. Planting By Seed Direct seeding can be used to introduce pioneer species in areas with no forest cover, and to introduce non-pioneer species to enrich secondary forests. Non-pioneer species should only be sown when forest cover already exists, for otherwise the mortality rate would be too high and the process would become non-viable. Aerial Sowing The method can give good results in inaccessible areas, with high and well-distributed rainfall and loosely compacted topsoil s. Hydroseeding After the traditional practice of direct sowing, hydro-seeding was one of the first innovative measures to be used. A mix of seeds, fertilizers and water-adhesive materials is sprayed from trailer-tanks onto the area to be re-vegetated. Planting of Cuttings Directly in the Field The technique of planting cuttings can be used successfully with certain forest and shrub species. Limitations include the fact that few species tolerate this type of propagation; the need for constant rainfall in the initial stage of the process; and intensive irrigation requirements in the post-planting period, until the cutting produces buds and the establishment of seedlings.

24 Restoration In Vegetation Islands The term Vegetation Island refers to an area with few species, surrounded by subsoil on all sides. The concept is based on the principle that not all places within a degraded area are the same; some have a better supply of environmental and other factors, although this may not be visible. Natural Regeneration Natural regeneration is an important process in the biomass restoration of degraded areas. Its efficiency depends on various factors, including firstly the availability of seeds of the species to be regenerated. Secondly, it depends on those seeds being dispersed in the area to be regenerated. At this stage, dispersion agents such as wind, birds and rodents are clearly very important. A third factor involves the environmental conditions in which the new plant has to develop. Enrichment This method is recommended in areas at an intermediate stage of disturbance, which maintain some of the biotic and abiotic characteristics of forest formations typical of the tropics. The technique is used in areas whose original biomass has been degraded by the action of various anthropogenic factors over time, and are currently occupied by low-level vegetation dominated by species in the initial stages of the succession. Restoration Practices Using Physical Measures Physical measures aim to reduce the effects of short-term erosion and afford satisfactory viability to the implementation of biological measures. Sometimes, if this course is not followed, investment in biological measures may be wasted, because the erosion may compromise the seedlings and even the future trees. Restoration Practices Using Physical-Biological Measures Physical-biological measures aim to alleviate the environmental problems existing in areas undergoing rapid erosion processes, where the use of biological measures alone would not produce satisfactory conservation effects in the short run. Sometimes, these might even be unviable in practice, because of the inaccessibility of the area, hydric stress, large daily temperature fluctuations, and a lack of organic material and soil. Pillows are used for the following purposes: To provide organic material to substrates lacking it; To provide humidity for the environment during lengthy droughts, making water available for the plants for periods of up to three months without rainfall; To allow for primary colonization of the substrate; To trap sediments.

25 Biomass Methodology Estimation The biomass calculation data for the Amazon Forest biome were obtained from RADAMBRASIL project s forestal inventory, published by the Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística IBGE (Brazilian Institute for Geography and Statistics), which presents circumference measures at breast height and height of every sampled tree grouped by sample unit, sample unit geodesic coordinates and leave indication at a scale of 1: to which they belong. The positions of the sample units were introduced into a geographical referenced databank. There has been applied a correction in order to include the trees with circumference at breast height under 100 cm, considering that the measures have been taken from all trees with a value higher or equal to 100 cm. These data were used for the biomass estimate employing the several available mathematical models, in accordance with Goes Filho (2013) and than were made compatible to TM/Lansat 5 s scenery.

26 Allometric Equations for Biomass Estimation 1) Silva (2007) Biomass Total above ground kg/tree; DBH=cm; H=m FW = 0,5521 * DBH 1,6629 * Ht 0,7224 ; r2=0,95 ; DBH 4,5 120 All sites in Amazon 2) Higuchi et al. (1998) Biomass above ground kg/tree; DBH=cm H=m Ln FW = -1, ,665 x ln(dbh) ; r2=0,92 ; DBH 5-20 Ln FW = -0, x ln(dbh) ; r2=0.90 ; DBH 20 FW = 0,0336 * D 2,171 * H 1,038 ; r2=0,94 ; DBH 5-20 FW = 0,0009 * D 1,558 * H 2,651 ; r2=0,92 ; DBH 20 Tropical Rain Forest 3) Uhl et al. (1988) Biomass Total above ground kg/t; Dry Weight ln Bt= -2,17 + 1,02 ln(dap)2 + 0,39 lnh H=m DBH=cm r2=0,96 H 2m Amazônia East 4) Brown(1997) Biomass total above the ground; kg/tree ; Dry Weight used by IPCC Bt=21,297-6,953(DBH) + 0,740(DBH2) DBH=cm r2=0,92 DBH Tropical Rain Forest

27 5) Nelson et al. (1999) Biomass Total above ground kg/tree; DBH=cm; H=m Ln (DW)= -1, ,4128 ln(dbh) ; r2=0,984 Ln (DW)= -2, ,1400 ln(dbh) + 0,4644(H) ; r2= 0,986 DBH 1,2-28,6 Dry Weight Central Amazônia 6) UTMUTF(2003) Biomass Dry Weight above ground kg/tree, DBH=cm. H=m DW = exp[ 2, ,649 ln (dbh) 0,021 (ln(dbh))2] Tropical Humid Low lands hardwood DBH DW = 21,297 6,953 (dbh) + 0,740 (dbh)2 Tropical Hight Humidity Low Lands Hardwood DBH 4 112

28 BIOMASS(T/HA) BY VEGETATION TYPES(%) BY BIOMES Vegetation Types AMAZONIA CERRADO ATLANTICA CAATINGA PAMPA PANTANAL % T/HA % T/HA % T/HA % T/HA % T/HA % T/HA Dense Ombrophilous Forest xxx xxx xxx xxx Open Ombrophilous Forest xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx Mixed Ombrophilous Forest xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx Seasonal Semideciduous Forest Seasonal Deciduous Forest Campinarana xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx Savanna xxx xxx Steppe Savanna Pioneer Formations xxx xxx Contacts among Vegetation Types Vegetational Refuges xxx xxx xxx xxx Steppe xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx Water 2.41 xxx 0.59 xxx 1.91 Xxx 0.95 xxx 7.95 xxx 1.25 xxx BIOMASS AVERAGE (t/ha) Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro - Brasil

29 Amazon Biomass Brazilian Amazon Forest s contribution for the carbon dioxide increase in the atmosphere is a source of controversies, as there exists a lot of uncertainties concerning its deforesting rates, regeneration, carbon emissions and especially with regard to biomass measuring. According to Odum (1972), the biomass is the life weight, a compilation of biotic components of an ecosystem: producers, consumers and disintegrators. The biomass estimates are still very imprecise and for this reason they still are a source of a lot of polemic and controversy. This originates from the enormous biologic diversity existing in the Amazon Forest, which influences directly the biomass estimates. In this region, the biomass does not only differ among the forest typologies, but even between the formations of a same typology (Barbosa and Ferreira, 2004). Besides these factors, the estimates also vary in view of the researcher, of the used method, of the sample s size and according to the selected location. For this reason, up to the present moment, there does not exist a consensus relating to Amazon Forest s biomass. According to the estimates of Brown & Lugo (1992), obtained from forest data, varied from 90 to 397 t/ha, with an average of 268 t/ha. Fearnside (1992) analyzed a series of works performed by FAO and achieved an average of 215 t/ha regarding the Brazilian Amazon Forest. Fearnside itself (1994) obtained an aboveground biomass average of 327 t/ha. Martinelli et al (1994) estimated the native forest s biomass in a Rondonia State area as being 284 t/ha. Oliveira et al (2003) obtained 384 t/ha in small fragments. According to Martinelli et al (1994), the range of obtained values through the great area inventories vary between 162 t/ha to 320 t/ha, with an average equal to 248 t/ha. However, with parcels of up to 1 ha, it presents values from 185 t/ha to 383 t/ha, with an average of 292 t/ha. The general average between the two methods would stay at 274 t/ha. FRA s 2005 Country Report for Brazil presented a value of 260 t/ha for above ground forestal biomass in the Amazon Forest. In order to try to correct certain distortions in the biomass calculation in accordance with the variables mentioned above, we present below our estimate with regard to latitude and longitude, according to the previously described methodology, which varied from 60 to 320 t/ha, with an average of 265 t/ha over the ground biomass concerning the present Amazon Forest.

30 In the following are presented the Biomass estimated values in t/ha over the ground in view of latitude and longitude for the states of Amazonas, Para, Acre, Mato Grosso, Rondônia, Amapá, Roraima, Tocantins and Goiás (up to the 13º south parallel) and Maranhão (up to the 44º east meridian), which corresponds to the area defined as the Brazilian Legal Amazon of the Amazon Biome.

31 Amazonia States Biomass A-Amazonas State Longitude : From -73,56 to -67,38 Ton/ha West

32 Amazonia States Biomass B-Amazonas State Longitude : From -67,38 to -62,12 Ton/ha ,4-67,1-66,8-66,5-66,2-66,1-65,8-65,8-65,2-64,9-64,9-64,6-64, ,7-63,4-63,1-62,7-62,4-62,1-5,79-1,45-8,68-7,23-5,79-4,34-2,89-1,45 0 1,45 West

33 Amazonia States Biomass C-Amazonas State Longitude : From -61,82 to -57,49 Ton/ha West

34 Amazonia States Biomass Amapá State Longitude : From -53,78 to -51,93 Ton/ha West

35 Amazonia States Biomass Acre State Longitude : From -74,18 to -68,31 Ton/ha ,2-73,9-72,9-72,3-71,4-71,1-70,2-69,9-68,6-68,3-8,68-11,57-10,12-8,68-7,23 West

36 Amazonia States Biomass A-Pará State Longitude : From -58,73 to -54,09 Ton/ha West

37 Amazonia States Biomass B-Pará State Longitude : From -54,09 to -46,98 Ton/ha ,1-53,8-53,5-53,2-52,9-52,6-52,6-52,2-51,6-51,3-50,7-50,1-49,8-49,5-49,2 47, ,79-1,45-8,68-7,23-5,79-4,34-2,89-1,45 0 West

38 Amazonia States Biomass Rondonia State Longitude : From -66,76 to -61,21 Ton/ha West

39 Amazonia States Biomass Roraima State Longitude : From -65,22 to -59,04 Ton/ha , ,7-62,4-62,1-61,5-61,2-60,9-60,6-60,3-59,7-59,4-59 2,89 0 1,45 2,89 4,34 5,79 West

40 Amazonia States Biomass Maranhão State Longitude : From -46,37 to -45,44 Ton/ha ,4-45,4-4,34-1,45 West

41 Amazonia States Biomass Tocantins State Longitude : From -48,22 to -46,37 Ton/ha ,2-47,9-47,6-46,4-7,23-10,12-8,68-7,23 West

42 Amazonia States Biomass Goias State Longitude : From -51,04 to -50,72 Ton/ha West

43 Amazonia States Biomass Mato Grosso State Longitude : From -60,90 to -50,08 Ton/ha ,9-60, ,7-58,1-57,8-56,9-56,6-56, ,4-54,7-53,8-53,5-52,3-51,9-51,6-51,3-51,4-50,1-13,01-15,9-14,46-13,01-11,57-10,12 West

44 Atlantic Forest Unlike Amazonia, which has tall trees, the Atlantic Forest is lower and more compact, with its tallest trees reaching a height of m. Below there is a dense under-forest consisting of creeping plants, shrubs and grasses. Palmetto and other tropical palms are typical of its interior. The influence of fauna patterns is well defined in the Atlantic Forest, and clearly marked in a zoogeographic province. About 70% of the biodiversity is provided by fauna, which shows the importance of protecting this component in order to preserve local or regional biological wealth, which is only possible by preserving all vegetation formations that make up the Atlantic Forest biome Biomass We present in our estimate an average of 300 T/ha, per type of vegetation and the variability of these values. However, depending on the variables to be considered, these values present a variation amplitude and cannot, under no circumstances, be considered as a unique average value for the whole Atlantic Forest. We present below, considering the ecosystems described above, a Guapyassu(2009) based table. Biomass values can also be estimate for these profiles, using, as a base, the values presented per type of vegetation. Some values are presented, but these values are not deemed final, and in fact are personal proposals for ecosystems, which will require a better future assessment, whenever there is an updated forest inventory available.

45 Atlantic Forest (Parana State)

46 Atlantic Forest (Parana State)

47 Atlantic Forest (Parana State)

48 Forest s Carbon Stock Forests are the largest carbon pool on earth. It acts as a major source and sinks of carbon in nature. Thus, it has a potential to form a chief component in the mitigation of global warming and adaptation to climate change. Estimation of the forest carbon stocks will enable us to assess the amount of carbon loss during deforestation or the amount of carbon that a forest can store when such forests are regenerated. The principal element for the estimation of forest s carbon stocks is the estimation of forest biomass. Although there has been numerous studies carried out to estimate the forest biomass and the forest carbon stocks, there is still a further need to develop robust methods to quantify the estimates of biomass of all forest components and carbon stocks more accurately.

49 1 t biomass= +/- 0,5 t C 1 t C = 3,67 t de CO2 T of CO2/Ha BIOMA AVERAGE VALUE AMAZON 496 CERRADO 122 ATLANTICA 551 CAATINGA 114 PAMPA 70 PANTANAL 85

50 Conclusion Biomass is extremely variable, and to a large extent independent of vegetation types found in Brazil. Therefore, extrapolation approaches used in this work that assign vegetation types an average biomass value can to capture this variability. The amount and distribution of above ground biomass (or the amount of carbon contained in vegetation) in the Brazilian s Biomes is largely unknown, making it difficult to estimate how much carbon dioxide is produced through deforestation and how much is sequestered through forest regrowth. So, as to allow the evaluation of the Brazilian contribution to the carbon market, there is the need of a correct estimate of the biomass, through a national forest inventory, carried out in a continuous and standardized way, to supply reliable data and information.

51 Contact: Professor Jorge Palladino Correa de Lima, Phd Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro - Brasil