Many studies have suggested that tropical industrial plantations, with appropriate governance structures and policy incentives, can promote natural rainforest second growth and thus increase stored carbon. However, these studies focus on native trees, despite the fact that most reforestation today is done with industrial, exotic plantations. Furthermore, it is unclear what the potential synergies of industrial reforestation and secondary forest regrowth. There has been little research into how industrial reforestation can achieve carbon sequestration by preserving plantations while encouraging the natural regeneration of second-growth forests within the same landscape. I will investigate how carbon is stored or lost below ground as a result of industrial reforestation and subsequent secondary forest regrowth.
Specifically, I will investigate long-term changes in soil carbon storage associated with Eucalyptus reforestation and associated second-growth forests. My research will address the following questions:
Question 1: How has soil carbon changed over time since the reforestation of eucalyptus compared to previous land use?
Question 2: Does the establishment of second-growth forests distinctly shape soil carbon stocks(?) compared to previous land use and intact rainforest?