Carbon Stocks and Emissions of Malaysian Forests Abd Latif M., Ismail H., & Elizabeth P. Forest Research Institute Malaysia 52109 Kepong, Selangor, Malaysia ISO 9001 : 2008 www.frim.gov.my
Content Background Global forest carbon emissions and stocks Regional forest carbon stocks National carbon stocks National GHG emissions from forest Comparative carbon stocks in oil palm plantations Conclusion www.frim.gov.my
Background Three greenhouse gases have increased in the atmosphere since pre-industrial times, and this increase is the main driving cause of climate change. CO 2, CH 4 and N 2 O altogether amount to 80% of the total radiative forcing from well-mixed greenhouse gases. The increase of CO 2, CH 4 and N 2 O is caused by anthropogenic emissions from the use of fossil fuel as a source of energy and from land use and land use change, in particular agriculture. The observed change in the atmospheric concentration of CO 2, CH 4 and N 2 O results from the dynamic balance between anthropogenic emissions, and the perturbation of natural processes that leads to a partial removal of these gases from the atmosphere. 5 th AR, IPCC
Fate of Anthropogenic CO 2 Emissions (2003-2012 average) 8.6 ± 0.4 GtC/yr 92% 4.3±0.1 GtC/yr 45% 0.8 ± 0.5 GtC/yr 8% + 2.6 ± 0.5 GtC/yr 27% 2.6 ± 0.8 GtC/yr 27% Calculated as the residual of all other flux components Source: Le Quéré et al 2013; CDIAC Data; Global Carbon Project 2013 www.frim.gov.my
Uncertainty in Land-Use Change Emissions Uncertainty in land-use change is large, particularly in early years. This budget uses updated estimates, and has higher cumulative emissions than the IPCC AR5. Cumulative emissions 1870 2011: 155 ± 55 GtC (this budget), 145 ± 60 GtC (IPCC) Source: Le Quéré et al 2013; Houghton & Hackler (in review); Global Carbon Project 2013 www.frim.gov.my
Rate of deforestation Decreasing in several countries About 13 mill. ha/yr converted to other land uses of 16 mill. ha/yr in 1990s Brazil and Indonesia have significantly reduced deforestation rate; S. America & Africa largest net loss of forest www.frim.gov.my
Forests store a vast amount of carbon 289 Gt or 145 bil ton Carbon in biomass. carbon stocks decrease 0.5 bil ton/yr 2005-10, due to reduction of forest area. www.frim.gov.my
Carbon stocks in different forest types Biome Area (10 6 km 2 ) Carbon Stocks (Gt C) Vegetation Soils Total Tropical forests 17.6 212 (45%) 216 428 Temperate forests 10.4 59 100 159 Boreal forests 13.7 88 471 559 Tropical savannas & grasslands 22.5 66 264 330 Temperate grasslands & 12.5 9 295 304 shrublands Deserts & semi-deserts 45.5 8 191 199 Tundra 9.5 6 121 127 Wetlands 3.5 15 225 240 Croplands 16.0 3 128 131 151.2
Forest carbon stocks -region Country Forest type Biomass content (t/ha) Malaysia Peninsular Malaysia Good Logged (1-10 years) Logged (11-20 years) Logged (20-30 years) Logged (>30 years) Logged Peat swamp Peat swamp 167 96 110 131 135 98 120 Remark Philip & Abdul Rahim Nik, 2009, Malaysia - Inland forest Sarawak Hill forest Malaysia - Sabah Unlogged forest Logged (~1970) Logged (1988/9) Logged (1995/6) Logged (2000/2) Logged (2003/6) Logged (2007) Lowland forest Peat swamp Oil palm Timber plantations 140-193 165-203 177 144 94 150 166 102 122 108 33-64 26 58 IPCC, 1996 Morel et al, 2011
Forest carbon stocks -region Country Forest type Biomass content (t/ha) Philippines Surigao del Sur, Mindanao Remark Matured 96.7 Lasco et al, 2006 Logged 1-5 yrs 46.6 Logged 6-10 yrs 57.4 Logged 11-15 yrs 49.5 Logged 16-20 yrs 57.3 Indonesia East Kalimantan 254.5 Yamakura, et al 1986 Old forest 250-350 Murdiyarso & Wasrin, 1996 Thailand Ton Mai Yak 137.8 Terakunpisut,Gaj KP27 70.3 aseni Pong Phu Ron 46.3 & Ruankawe (2007) Singapore Primary forest 168 Ngo, et al 2013 Secondary forest 105
Changes in Regional C Stocks Country Site Carbon Stocks (t/ ha) Net Changes in Carbon Stocks (t/ ha/yr) Thailand HKK 105.6-0.12 Malaysia Pasoh 169.9 0.81 Lambir 248.6 0.52 Philippines Palanan 145.1 0.11 www.frim.gov.my
Changes in Forested Area in Malaysia: 1990-2010 Permanent Reserved Forest 1990-2000 2000-2010 14.3% -0.7% Protected Areas 0% 74% Stateland Forest -32% -34% Rubber -22% - 21% *Oil palm 67% 44 ^Cocoa -81% -73% Source: FAO, 2010;*MPOB ; ^LKM
Changes in Forest Areas Forest change occurred in the Permanent Reserved Forest and Stateland Forest. Rubber and oil palm areas were also significantly reduced and many of these areas have been converted to oil palm plantations. Regression models indicated that poverty rate affected forest area between 1970-1984. Poverty rate of 20% and below did not affect the forest area, (Miyamoto et al, 2014). Oil palm expansion has a significant negative relation with forest area change in a single regression model, (Miyamoto et al, 2014).
Changes in Carbon Stocks 3500.00 3000.00 Million tonnes 2500.00 2000.00 1500.00 1990 2000 2010 1000.00 500.00 0.00 Above Ground Carbon Stocks Below Ground Carbon Stocks Carbon in Litter Soil
CO 2 Removals 140.00 120.00 100.00 Mt CO 2 e 80.00 60.00 40.00 20.00 0.00 Permanent Reserve Forest Stateland Forest Plantation Forests Oil palm Rubber Non-forest type species (000 trees) Category
Total Emissions 18 16 14 million tonnes C/yr 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 PRF State land Commercial harvest 1990-00 2000-2010
Carbon Stock in Oil Palm Plantation Age (yr) Aboveground carbon stocks (t/ha) Reference Mineral soil Peat soil 23 40.5 Khalid et al, (1999) 16 21-37 Henson & Mohd Tayeb, (2003 Matured 22.44 Morel, et al,(2011) Riau (3-30 yrs) 10-60 Syahrinudin, (2005)
Conclusion Carbon stocks are different in different forest types and regions Carbon stocks has not changed much in the Malaysian forest thus suggesting the sustainable forest management practices undertaken has not reduced the carbon stocks GHG emissions from the forest have reduced between 1990-2010 www.frim.gov.my