The forests of Siberia
represent one of the last natural frontiers in the world. Nearly 65% of
Siberia's forests grow in areas with permafrost and Larch
forests are dominated here. According to our estimates, carbon stocks
in the
soils of permafrost forest and tundra ecosystems of Yakutia amount to
17 Gt
(altogether 126 Mha of forest area and 37 Mha of tundra). It is
about 25% of total carbon stock in
forest soils of the Russian Federation. This carbon has been
accumulated
during centuries, and rapid climate change may release its huge amount
for
relatively short period, thus enhancing rather source than sink role of
Russia.
The total stock of terrestrial phytomass carbon of forests, tundra and
meadows
of Yakutia is 2.2-4.5 Gt C, including 0.053 Gt C of tundra and meadows.
Author: T.C. Maximov, A.J.Dolman, M.K.van der Molen, et al (t dot c dot maximov at ibpc dot ysn dot ru)
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