Impacts of selective harvest on the carbon sequestration potential in Moso bamboo ( Phyllostachys pubescens ) plantations

Bamboos are among the fastest growing and most renewable forest resources, and are widely grown throughout the tropics and the subtropics. Properties related to their growth and utilization are beneficial for climate change mitigation and adaptation. However, these aspects are yet to be extensively researched. This paper studies the carbon sequestration potential of bamboos, using the example of Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens), and examining the impacts of selective harvest. By using time-series data and allometric equations, the paper develops an original model to survey the biomass accumulation of a Moso bamboo plantation. The carbon sequestration potential of bamboo is compared to a fast-growing species that grows in similar conditions – Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata). The modelled data indicate that carbon sequestration of Moso bamboo would only exceed that of Chinese fir when bamboo is selectively harvested – as this allows effective utilization of bamboo's characteristics of fast growth and high renewability; the simulation showed that a selectively harvested Moso bamboo plantation sequesters 305.77 t C/ha in 60 years. Although this study generated essential findings to determine the potential role of bamboo in climate change mitigation, it also demonstrated the need for further research to enable stakeholders to utilize bamboo effectively in these efforts.