Forestation potential in recultivation of disturbed lands for reduction of greenhouse gas emission

Forestation during recultivation of disturbed lands may become an additional measure to expand the flow of greenhouse gases for the Russian Federation. The study of forestation potential on disturbed lands is based on analysis of public statistical data on the land distribution according to the grounds as well as data on the areas and growing stocks of forested lands for tree species and age classes in the Leningrad region. In order to establish an potential absorption capacity of recultivated lands, forest stands of the first and second age-classes were chosen as model (with pine, spruce and birch as dominating tree species). On the basis of model forest stands by the method of regional assessment of the forest carbon budget the feasible forestation potential for recultivation of disturbed lands for the areas of Leningrad region is established. Forestation in the stands of the first and second age-classes with dominating of spruce may increase the absorption capacity of the Leningrad region by 1.9 %, stands with dominating of birch by 1.5 % and stands with dominating of pine by 1.3 % per year. (paper)