Carbon Dynamics in Forest Ecosystems

The accumulation of carbon within a forest growth cycle can be considered in four stages. The initial establishment stage involves low global carbon cycle accumulation and may even experience net carbon loss (particularly from soil) as a result of site preparation and low biomass and bioenergy inputs. A rapid uptake of carbon is then experienced during the second phase, known as the full vigor stage, which subsequently levels off as the stand reaches the mature stage. Finally, the forest reaches old growth and the carbon is in steady state with accumulation associated with new growth balanced by mortality and disturbances. (more…)

Ecological Footprint Calculation and Resource Consumption

ecological footprint
The ecological footprint definition is a measurement that compares rates of human resource consumption and waste generation with the biosphere’s rates of resource regeneration and waste energy assimilation, expressed in terms of the area necessary to maintain these flows. Ecological footprints represent the biologically productive space required to produce the resources and absorb the waste biomass of a given population, organization, or product using prevailing management and technology. (more…)