European Regional Development Fund Operational Programme "Growth and Employment" Specific Aid Objective 1.1.1 To increase the research and innovative capacity of scientific institutions of Latvia and the ability to attract external financing, investing in human resources and infrastructure Activity 1.1.1.2 Post-doctoral Research Aid agreement No. 1.1.1.2/VIAA/4/20/687
Estimates of forest biomass are needed for tracking changes in carbon stocks, as well as for other purposes. Equations for estimating tree or stand biomass have typically been developed from healthy trees ignoring the presence of rotten wood in standing forests. With the current interest in obtaining financial rewards for the amount of biomass and carbon sequestered in forests, the uncertainties and biases involved in using simple tools certainly are of more than academic interest. This study aims to develop a methodology for evaluating the impact of the stem rot on the common alder and grey alder forest stand biomass and carbon stocks in Latvia and then apply the developed methodology to other tree species.
More specifically, the objectives of this study are:
- Extend the knowledge of variations in basic density within the grey alder and common alder stems;
- To develop stand-level biomass models for common tree species in Latvia;
- To estimate carbon mass by taking into account internal stem decay and the loss of carbon it represents in alder forest stands.