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Forest Sciences Commons

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Plant Sciences

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University of Nebraska - Lincoln

2013

Afforestation and deforestation

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Full-Text Articles in Forest Sciences

Carbon Benefits From Protected Areas In The Conterminous United States, Daolan Zheng, Linda S. Heath, Mark J. Ducey Jan 2013

Carbon Benefits From Protected Areas In The Conterminous United States, Daolan Zheng, Linda S. Heath, Mark J. Ducey

USDA Forest Service / UNL Faculty Publications

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. …