Protecting an artificial savanna as a nature-based solution to restore carbon and biodiversity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Détails bibliographiques
Publié dans:	Global change biology. - 1999. - 30(2024), 1 vom: 26. Jan., Seite e17154
Auteur principal:	Djiofack, Brice Yannick (Auteur)
Autres auteurs:	Beeckman, Hans, Bourland, Nils, Belanganayi, Basile Luse, Laurent, Félix, Ilondea, Bhely Angoboy, Nsenga, Laurent, Huart, Alain, Longwwango, Menard Mbende, Deklerck, Victor, Lejeune, Geert, Verbiest, William W M, Van den Bulcke, Jan, Van Acker, Joris, De Mil, Tom, Hubau, Wannes
Format:	Article en ligne
Langue:	English
Publié:	2024
Accès à la collection:	Global change biology
Sujets:	Journal Article Central Africa Congo Basin artificial savanna biodiversity recovery carbon recovery forest restoration nature-based solution Carbon 7440-44-0

Description
Résumé:	© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. A large share of the global forest restoration potential is situated in artificial 'unstable' mesic African savannas, which could be restored to higher carbon and biodiversity states if protected from human-induced burning. However, uncertainty on recovery rates in protected unstable savannas impedes science-informed forest restoration initiatives. Here, we quantify the forest restoration success of anthropogenic fire exclusion within an 88-ha mesic artificial savanna patch in the Kongo Central province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo). We found that aboveground carbon recovery after 17 years was on average 11.40 ± 0.85 Mg C ha-1 . Using a statistical model, we found that aboveground carbon stocks take 112 ± 3 years to recover to 90% of aboveground carbon stocks in old-growth forests. Assuming that this recovery trajectory would be representative for all unstable savannas, we estimate that they could have a total carbon uptake potential of 12.13 ± 2.25 Gt C by 2100 across DR Congo, Congo and Angola. Species richness recovered to 33.17% after 17 years, and we predicted a 90% recovery at 54 ± 2 years. In contrast, we predicted that species composition would recover to 90% of old-growth forest composition only after 124 ± 3 years. We conclude that the relatively simple and cost-efficient measure of fire exclusion in artificial savannas is an effective nature-based solution to climate change and biodiversity loss. However, more long-term and in situ monitoring efforts are needed to quantify variation in long-term carbon and diversity recovery pathways. Particular uncertainties are spatial variability in socio-economics and growing conditions as well as the effects of projected climate change
Description:	Date Completed 29.01.2024 Date Revised 06.02.2024 published: Print Citation Status MEDLINE
ISSN:	1365-2486
DOI:	10.1111/gcb.17154