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Carbon Benefits From Protected Areas In The Conterminous United States, Daolan Zheng, Linda S. Heath, Mark J. Ducey
Carbon Benefits From Protected Areas In The Conterminous United States, Daolan Zheng, Linda S. Heath, Mark J. Ducey
Natural Resources & the Environment
Background
Conversion of forests to other land cover or land use releases the carbon stored in the forests and reduces carbon sequestration potential of the land. The rate of forest conversion could be reduced by establishing protected areas for biological diversity and other conservation goals. The purpose of this study is to quantify the efficiency and potential of forest land protection for mitigating GHG emissions.
Results
The analysis of related national-level datasets shows that during the period of 1992–2001 net forest losses in protected areas were small as compared to those in unprotected areas: -0.74% and −4.07%, respectively. If forest …