Carbon-fixing oriented management patterns of Phyllostachys pubescens and their benefits

Key words: 
• forest economics /
• Phyllostachys pubescens /
• forest carbon sinks /
• carbon-fixing oriented /
• management pattern /
• benefits

Abstract: Based on data collected in interviews from related specialists and forest company manager，together with secondhand information，such as the costs-benefits and current management measures，characteristics and benefits of carbon-fixing oriented management pattern versus current management pattern for Phyllostachys pubescens (moso bamboo) were analyzed using a comparative analysis and the payback period method. Results showed that differences between carbon-fixing oriented and current management patterns were mainly reflected in management goals and common management measures. Carbon-fixing oriented management pattern was aimed at maximizing fixed carbon in the ecological system，especially in the tree layer，the management measures required both an increase in fixed carbon in the stand and a decrease in carbon leakage and carbon discharge due to utilization；whereas the current management pattern aimed at the maximizing the output of bamboo poles and shoots，no regarding the carbon issues. The costs of manual control，organic fertilizer，daily management，and carbon measurement were relatively high for the carbon-fixing oriented management pattern，but chemical fertilizer cost was relatively low with output value of stand products，such as bamboo poles and shoots，being high. For the carbon-fixing oriented management pattern，the payback period was sensitive to a carbon price being reduced from 18.4 years with a zero cost to 13.2 years when the price was US$25.20t-1 (the current international carbon trade price on 2008). Ecological and social benefits，such as conserving soil and water，preventing site degradation，increasing job opportunities for local farmers，and disseminating carbon knowledge were also benefits of the carbon-fixing oriented P. pubescens management pattern. [Ch，5 tab. 11 ref.]