Long-term development of above- and below-ground carbon stocks following land-use change in subalpine ecosystems of the Swiss National Park

Abstract

Vegetation changes following agricultural land abandonment at high elevation - which is frequent in Europe - could have a major impact on carbon (C) sequestration. However, most information on the effects of vegetation changes on ecosystem C stocks originates from low-elevation studies on reforestation or early successional forests, and little is known about how these stocks change during long-term secondary forest succession and at high elevation. We assessed aboveground, belowground, and ecosystem organic matter and C stocks in high-elevation ecosystems that represent the long-term development (centuries) following land abandonment: short- and tall-grass pastures, Swiss mountain pine (Pinus mugo Turra), mixed-conifer, and Swiss stone pine (Pinus cembra L.) - European larch (Larix decidua P. Mill.) forests.

Citation

Risch, Anita C.; Jurgensen, Martin F.; Page-Dumroese, Deborah S.; Wildi, Otto; Schultz, Martin. 2008. Long-term development of above- and below-ground carbon stocks following land-use change in subalpine ecosystems of the Swiss National Park. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 38: 1590-1602.