Costs of reforestation projects determine their competitiveness with alternative measures to mitigate rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations. We quantify carbon sequestration in above-ground biomass and soils of plantation forests and secondary forests in two countries in South America—Ecuador and Argentina—and calculate costs of temporary carbon sequestration. Costs per temporary certified emission reduction unit vary between 0.1 and 2.7 USD Mg−1 CO2 and mainly depend on opportunity costs, site suitability, discount rates, and certification costs. In Ecuador, secondary forests are a feasible and cost-efficient alternative, whereas in Argentina reforestation on highly suitable land is relatively cheap. Our results can be used to design cost-effective sink projects and to negotiate fair carbon prices for landowners.
How to translate text using browser tools
1 May 2005
The Ecological and Economic Potential of Carbon Sequestration in Forests: Examples from South America
Free de Koning,
Roland Olschewski,
Edzo Veldkamp,
Pablo Benítez,
Magdalena López-Ulloa,
Tomás Schlichter,
Mercedes de Urquiza
ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE
It is not available for individual sale.
This article is only available to subscribers.
It is not available for individual sale.
It is not available for individual sale.
AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment
Vol. 34 • No. 3
May 2005
Vol. 34 • No. 3
May 2005