The concept of a biobased economy has emerged in response to growing societal concerns about sustainable resource use, aiming to reduce reliance on fossil-based and non-renewable materials while minimizing environmental impacts. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from material production have surged from 5 gigatonnes of CO₂-equivalent (GtCO₂-eq) in 1995 to 11.5 GtCO₂-eq in 2015, accounting for 23% of global GHG emissions. In contrast, the global harvested wood products pool served as a net carbon sink of 335 million tonnes CO₂-equivalent (MtCO₂-eq) in 2015. Driven by population and economic growth, raw material consumption is expected to rise by 88%—from 89 gigatonnes in 2017 to 167 gigatonnes by 2060—while biomass demand will increase by 68%, primarily for wood rather than food and feed. However, shifting demand toward bioproducts alone is insufficient; sustainable production and sourcing of biomass must also be prioritized to ensure a truly sustainable bioeconomy. Future biomass production must align with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets to halt deforestation, reverse land degradation, and protect primary ecosystems by 2030.
Tag: biomass
Agromorphological characteristics of Irvingia gabonensis (Aubry-Lecomte ex O’Rorke) Baill. (Wild mango) and its effect on Theobroma cacao L. in traditional agroforestry systems
The study was conducted in the localities of Buyo, Duekoué, and Gueyo in western Côte d’Ivoire, within agroforestry systems that combine cocoa trees with Irvingia gabonensis. The aim was to enhance cocoa production in Côte d’Ivoire by associating it with I. gabonensis to achieve sustainable production. To achieve this goal, plots with radii of 10 and 20 m around I. gabonensis trees were established to assess diameter, height, morphological characteristics of fruits and seeds, biomass, and carbon stock. The results showed uniformity in the morphological characteristics of I. gabonensis, fruit production, biomass, and carbon stock across all localities, except for height. The vigor and pod yield of cocoa trees near I. gabonensis were reduced, likely due to lower cocoa density in its vicinity. However, its presence in cocoa plantations increased biomass production and carbon stock. I. gabonensis also stabilized the incidence of rotted and gnawed pods. Therefore, integrating I. gabonensis into agroforestry plots could be beneficial, provided that cocoa density around it is reduced to minimize its impact on cocoa vigor and yield.
Productivity of Gliricidia sepium and Erythrina berteroana in live fences at three pruning frequences in the Atlantic zone of Costa Rica
Towards comprehensive blue carbon accounting in Vietnam
Key messages
- The Government of Vietnam pays great attention to protecting mangrove ecosystems as they play a vital role in climate change mitigation. In 2024, the government issued Technical Guidelines for Biomass and Carbon Stock Estimation of Mangrove Forests (Decision No. 316/QD-LN-SXLN). These Guidelines aim to standardize estimates for biomass and carbon stock, and increase carbon storage from their restoration. This brief looks at required improvements to the Guidelines to help Vietnam join the blue carbon market.
- Better estimates of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from converted mangroves are needed to understand baseline emissions from anthropogenic disturbances in mangrove forests, as well as the impact of ending conversion of mangroves to other uses like aquaculture. To that end, better information on conversion and land-management practices is needed. This includes excavation depth for construction of aquaculture ponds and infrastructure development, nitrogen inputs for aquaculture production, and knowledge on crop types, drainage depth, and GHG budgets in mangroves converted to agriculture.
- More refined estimates of GHG emissions from converted mangroves can help shed light on baseline emissions from anthropogenic disturbances in mangrove forests, as well as the impact of ending conversion of mangroves to other uses like aquaculture.
- Strategic alignment with established blue carbon standards—such as the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and the Gold Standard (GS) Framework—would enable Vietnam to harness the full potential of its mangrove ecosystems for high-integrity blue carbon crediting.
- Integrating remote sensing and machine learning techniques with species-level classification data can significantly enhance the accuracy and robustness of blue carbon accounting in mangrove ecosystems.
Are traditional agroforestry systems nature-based carbon sinks? Empirical evidence from Tanzania
Traditional agroforestry systems (TAFS) in Tanzania—Alalili, Ngitili, and Faidherbia parkland—play a critical role in biodiversity conservation, rural livelihoods, and climate change mitigation. This study quantified their carbon sequestration potential using field data from 48 plots. Results showed significant variation in total carbon stocks, with Faidherbia parkland storing the most (151.91 Mg C ha⁻¹) due to large-diameter trees, while Ngitili stored the least (17.96 Mg C ha⁻¹) despite higher stem density. These findings highlight TAFS as valuable nature-based carbon sinks and support their integration into climate strategies such as REDD+ and carbon farming. Strengthening TAFS can yield co-benefits for carbon storage, ecosystem services, and sustainable development.
Rubber tree allometry, biomass partitioning and carbon stocks in mountainous landscapes of sub-tropical China
Expansion of rubber plantations into sub-optimal environments has been a dominating land conversion in continental South-East Asia in the last decade. Regional evaluation of the carbon sequestration potential of rubber trees depends largely on the selection of suitable allometric equations and the biomass-to-carbon conversion factor. Most equations are age-, elevation-, or clone-specific, and their application therefore gives uncertain results at the landscape level with varying age groups, elevation ranges, and clone types. Currently, for rubber-based systems, none of the allometric equations takes environmental factors (e.g. climate, topographic condition, soil properties, and management scheme) into consideration to allow pan-tropical usage. Against this background, 30 rubber trees with a root profile of up to 2 m were destructively harvested and 882 rubber trees were measured non-destructively in 27 plots, covering rotation lengths of 4–35 years, elevation gradients of 621–1127 m, and locally used clone types (GT1, PRIM600, Yunyan77-4) in mountainous South Western China. Allometric equations for aboveground biomass (AGB) estimations considering diameter at breast height (DBH), tree height (H), and wood density were superior to other equations. A simpler model with similar performance (AGB = 0.0419DBH2.316H0.478) can be used if tree-specific wood density is not available. For belowground biomass (BGB) a model using only DBH can provide a robust prediction (BGB = 0.207DBH1.668). We also tested goodness of fit for the recently proposed pan-tropical forest model, which includes a bioclimatic factor E, combining indices of temperature and precipitation variability and drought intensity. Prediction of AGB by the model calibrated with the harvested rubber tree biomass and wood density was more accurate than the results produced by the pan-tropical forest model adjusted to local conditions. The relationships between DBH and height and between DBH and biomass were influenced by tapping, therefore biomass and C stock calculations for rubber have to be done using species-specific allometric equations. Based on the analysis of environmental factors acting at the landscape level, we found that above- and belowground carbon stocks were mostly affected by stand age, soil clay content, aspect, and planting density. Increasing planting density to >570 trees per ha according to the regional plantation management strategy had a negative impact on aboveground carbon stock of old rubber plantations. The integration of bioclimatic and regional management factors is a further approach to build widely applicable biomass models for pan-tropical rubber-based systems. The results of this study provide reference for reliable carbon accounting in other rubber-cultivated regions.
A women’s association in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo
In Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo, where over 80% of households rely on charcoal, unsustainable production is a major driver of forest degradation. This study examines how the women’s association AFEVADES, in collaboration with CFT sawmill and CIFOR-ICRAF, transformed wood residues into sustainable charcoal, focusing on gender dynamics and environmental impacts. Initially an informal survival strategy, the initiative evolved after AFEVADES officially registered in 2020, gaining access to carbonization training and microcredit. As a result, the group doubled production efficiency, reduced processing time, and secured a stable wood supply.
The project has strengthened women’s economic autonomy, with women leading 95% of operations, managing earnings, and supporting households through food, education, and home construction. Over four years, 2,638 m³ of wood residues were converted into 11,000 bags of charcoal, reducing forest pressure. While still modest in scale, this model highlights the potential of gender-inclusive, community-driven solutions in supporting livelihoods and forest sustainability, emphasizing the need for policy support and investment to expand sustainable practices.
Fodder production and its utilization by small ruminants in arid regions (FOPAR): semi-Annual Report September 1989-February 1990
In this semi-annual report for the CALAR/FOPAR project, emphasis has been placed on evaluating the regrowth and recovery following complete defoliation by grazing of the fodder shrubs, Atriplex nummularia,Atriplex canescens and Cassia sturtii. These shrubs were planted at November 1984 at five planting densities, 10,000, 4,400, 2500, 1,100 and 625 shrubs per hectare, and left undisturbed until July 1987. From July 1987, to December 1989, the shrubs were grazed until complete defoliation in each year, between July and December. Following each grazing period, the shrubs were left to recover undisturbed. Measurements of the dimensions and estimates of the total standing biomass of the shrubs were made before and after each grazing period. In addition, the the stem and leaf biomass components of the total biomass were estimated. Because the quantification of the recovery of the shrubs was based on the estimates of standing biomass before and after grazing, a statistical analyses were made of the accuracy of the double sampling technique used to estimate biomass parameters during this project. In all, 39 sets of calibration data made during the project were analysed and the results and preliminary conclusions are reported. In addition, a final report is presented on the effect of inoculation with Azopirillum and Rhizobium and root morphology of Medicago polyrnorpha summarizing all the experimentation carried out during the project.
Développement de l’énergie de la biomasse: Évaluation du potentiel énergétique de la biomasse aérienne ligneuse des anciennes plantations d’hévéa et de palmiers
L’intervention de l’Union européenne à travers le 11ème Fonds européen de développement (FED) inscrit le secteur de l’environnement, de la conservation de la biodiversité et de l’agriculture durable dans les priorités nationales de la République démocratique du Congo (RDC). Le projet Formation, Recherche, Environnement dans la Tshopo (FORETS) contribue au développement du paysage centré sur la Réserve de biosphère de Yangambi (RBY).
How have carbon stocks in central and southern Africa’s miombo woodlands changed over the last 50 years? A systematic map of the evidence
Miombo woodlands cover ~ 2.7 million km2 of central and southern Africa between dry (650 mm mean annual rainfall) and moist miombo (1400 mm) and are currently threatened by land use and land cover changes that have intensified over the last 50 years. Despite the miombo’s global significance for carbon (C) storage and sequestration, there has been no regional synthesis that maps carbon stocks and changes in the woodlands. This information is crucial to inform further research for the development of appropriate policies and management strategies to maintain and increase C stocks and sequestration capacity, for conservation and sustainable management. We assembled a systematic map to determine what evidence exists for (1) changes in carbon stocks in miombo woodlands over the period 1960–2015; (2) differences in carbon density in miombo with different conservation status; (3) trends in carbon stock recovery following human disturbance; and (4) fire management impacts on carbon stocks and dynamics.