The Potential for Carbon Sequestration Through Reforestation of Abandoned Tropical Agricultural and Pasture Lands

摘要: Approximately half of the tropical biome is in some stage recovery from past human disturbance, most which secondary forests growing on abandoned agricultural lands and pastures. Reforestation these lands, both natural managed, has been proposed as a means to help offset increasing carbon emissions atmosphere. In this paper we discuss potential serve sinks for atmospheric dioxide aboveground biomass soils. A review literature data shows that increases at rate 6.2 Mg ha -1 yr during first 20 years succession, 2.9 over 80 regrowth. During regrowth, wet life zones have fastest accumulation with reforestation, followed by dry moist forests. Soil accumulated 0.41 100-year period, faster rates (1.30 -1) . Past land use affects above- belowground sequestration. Forests accumulate than other uses, while soil accumulates sites were cleared but not developed, pasture sites. Our results indicate reforestation mechanism least 40 years, possibly much longer. More research needed determine longer-term sequestration mitigation CO 2 emissions.