www.frim.gov.my www.frim.gov.mywww.frim.gov.myISO 9001 : 2008

Carbon Stocks and

Emissions of Malaysian Forests

Abd Latif M., Ismail H., & Elizabeth P.

Forest Research Institute Malaysia 52109 Kepong, Selangor, Malaysia

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Content �  Background

�  Global forest carbon emissions and stocks

�  Regional forest carbon stocks

�  National carbon stocks

�  National GHG emissions from forest

�  Comparative carbon stocks in oil palm plantations

�  Conclusion

Background �  Three greenhouse gases have increased in the

atmosphere since pre-industrial times, and this increase is the main driving cause of climate change.

�  CO2, CH4 and N2O altogether amount to 80% of the total radiative forcing from well-mixed greenhouse gases.

�  The increase of CO2, CH4 and N2O is caused by anthropogenic emissions from the use of fossil fuel as a source of energy and from land use and land use change, in particular agriculture.

�  The observed change in the atmospheric concentration of CO2, CH4 and N2O results from the dynamic balance between anthropogenic emissions, and the perturbation of natural processes that leads to a partial removal of these gases from the atmosphere. 5th AR, IPCC

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Fate of Anthropogenic CO2 Emissions (2003-2012 average)

Source: Le Quéré et al 2013; CDIAC Data; Global Carbon Project 2013

2.6 ± 0.5 GtC/yr 27%

8.6 ± 0.4 GtC/yr 92%

+ 0.8 ± 0.5 GtC/yr 8%

2.6 ± 0.8 GtC/yr

27% Calculated as the residual

of all other flux components

4.3±0.1 GtC/yr

45%

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Uncertainty in Land-Use Change Emissions Uncertainty in land-use change is large, particularly in early years.

This budget uses updated estimates, and has higher cumulative emissions than the IPCC AR5.

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This budget uses updated estimates, and has higher cumulative emissions than the IPCC AR5.

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Cumulative emissions 1870–2011: 155 ± 55 GtC (this budget), 145 ± 60 GtC (IPCC)

Source: Le Quéré et al 2013; Houghton & Hackler (in review); Global Carbon Project 2013

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Rate of deforestation •  Decreasing in several countries •  About 13 mill. ha/yr converted to other land uses of 16 mill. ha/yr in 1990s • Brazil and Indonesia have significantly reduced deforestation rate; S. America & Africa – largest net loss of forest

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Forests store a vast amount of carbon

•  289 Gt or 145 bil ton Carbon in biomass.

•  carbon stocks decrease 0.5 bil ton/yr 2005-10, due to reduction of forest area.

Carbon stocks in different forest types

Biome Area (106 km2)

Carbon Stocks (Gt C)

Vegetation Soils Total

Tropical forests 17.6 212 (45%)

216 428

Temperate forests 10.4 59 100 159 Boreal forests 13.7 88 471 559 Tropical savannas & grasslands 22.5 66 264 330 Temperate grasslands & shrublands

12.5 9 295 304

Deserts & semi-deserts 45.5 8 191 199 Tundra 9.5 6 121 127 Wetlands 3.5 15 225 240 Croplands 16.0 3 128 131

151.2

Forest carbon stocks -region Country Forest type Biomass content

(t/ha) Remark

Malaysia – Peninsular Malaysia

Good Logged (1-10 years) Logged (11-20 years) Logged (20-30 years) Logged (>30 years) Logged Peat swamp Peat swamp

167 96 110 131 135 98 120

Philip & Abdul Rahim Nik, 2009,

Malaysia - Sarawak

Inland forest Hill forest

140-193 165-203

IPCC, 1996

Malaysia - Sabah Unlogged forest Logged (~1970) Logged (1988/9) Logged (1995/6) Logged (2000/2) Logged (2003/6) Logged (2007) Lowland forest Peat swamp Oil palm Timber plantations

177 144 94 150 166 102 122 108

33-64 26 58

Morel et al, 2011

Forest carbon stocks -region Country Forest type Biomass content

(t/ha) Remark

Philippines Surigao del Sur, Mindanao

Matured 96.7 Lasco et al, 2006 Logged 1-5 yrs 46.6 Logged 6-10 yrs 57.4 Logged 11-15 yrs 49.5 Logged 16-20 yrs 57.3

Indonesia East Kalimantan 254.5 Yamakura, et al 1986

Old forest 250-350 Murdiyarso & Wasrin, 1996

Thailand

Ton Mai Yak 137.8 Terakunpisut,Gajaseni & Ruankawe (2007)

KP27 70.3 Pong Phu Ron 46.3

Singapore Primary forest 168 Ngo, et al 2013 Secondary forest 105

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Changes in Regional C Stocks

Country Site Carbon Stocks (t/

ha)

Net Changes in

Carbon Stocks (t/

ha/yr) Thailand HKK 105.6 -0.12 Malaysia Pasoh 169.9 0.81

Lambir 248.6 0.52 Philippines Palanan 145.1 0.11

Changes in Forested Area in Malaysia: 1990-2010

1990-2000 2000-2010 Permanent Reserved Forest

14.3% -0.7%

Protected Areas 0% 74% Stateland Forest

-32% -34%

Rubber -22% - 21% *Oil palm 67% 44 ^Cocoa -81% -73%

Source: FAO, 2010;*MPOB ; ^LKM

Changes in Forest Areas �  Forest change occurred in the Permanent

Reserved Forest and Stateland Forest.

�  Rubber and oil palm areas were also significantly reduced and many of these areas have been converted to oil palm plantations.

�  Regression models indicated that poverty rate affected forest area between 1970- 1984. Poverty rate of 20% and below did not affect the forest area, (Miyamoto et al, 2014).

�  Oil palm expansion has a significant negative relation with forest area change in a single regression model, (Miyamoto et al, 2014).

Changes in Carbon Stocks

0.00

500.00

1000.00

1500.00

2000.00

2500.00

3000.00

3500.00

Above Ground Carbon Stocks

Below Ground Carbon Stocks

Carbon in Litter Soil

1990

2000

2010

Mill

ion

tonn

es

CO2 Removals

0.00

20.00

40.00

60.00

80.00

100.00

120.00

140.00

Permanent Reserve Forest

Stateland Forest

Plantation Forests

Oil palm Rubber Non-forest type species (000 trees)

Mt

CO

2e

Category

Total Emissions

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

PRF State land Commercial harvest

mill

ion

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nes

C/

yr

1990-00 2000-2010

Carbon Stock in Oil Palm Plantation

Age (yr) Aboveground carbon stocks (t/ha)

Reference

Mineral soil Peat soil

23 40.5 Khalid et al, (1999)

16 21-37 Henson & Mohd Tayeb, (2003

Matured 22.44 Morel, et al,(2011)

Riau (3-30 yrs)

10-60 Syahrinudin, (2005)

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Conclusion �  Carbon stocks are different in different forest

types and regions

�  Carbon stocks has not changed much in the Malaysian forest thus suggesting the sustainable forest management practices undertaken has not reduced the carbon stocks

�  GHG emissions from the forest have reduced between 1990-2010