POTENTIAL CARBON STORAGE IN ACACIA MANGIUM WILLD. PLANTATION IN A WET LOWLAND AREA IN TROPICAL MALAYSIA

摘要

Acacia mangium Willd. is the most widely planted tree species in Sabah, Northern Borneo and is expected to play an important role in storage of carbon in this region. However present status of carbon storage capacity of this species has not been quantified. To properly evaluate carbon storage in plantations, it must be holistically analyzed, from initial stand establishment through to utilization of the wood products harvested from the stand. From this standpoint, we simulated the potential carbon storage of A. mangium plantations after repeated harvesting with special reference to the rotation period, the lifespan and replacement pattern of utilization of wood products. The results showed that if the wood products generated by A. mangium plantation can be utilized, net carbon storage of the plantations increases (with some oscillation) until it approaches a maximum equilibrium carbon storage determined by the rotation period, product lifespan, and product replacement type. Among these factors, product lifespan is found to be the most influential factor to determine the net long-term carbon storage in A. mangium stand. If products are utilized, for instance, for 30 years, the equilibrium level can increase 2.7 times as large as that of the plantation which products are not utilized. For achieving this high level of carbon storage, both intensive silvicultural operation and technological renovation of wood science are requisite.