Assessing Ecosystem Level Carbon Loss and Mitigating Capacity of Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) Plantations in Hilly Regions in India.

Ecosystem level carbon loss and the resultant loss of CO₂ mitigating capacity of rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) plantations of 23 and 30 years in a hilly urbanized terrain dominated by development and construction activities was investigated. The total carbon loss of the rubber ecosystem due to the destruction of a surface area of 10, 25, and 50 hectares of rubber plantation was derived from published data of destructive tree felling based on the biomass and carbon sequestration potential of one hectare of rubber plantation. The popularly cultivated clone RRII 105 since 1980 occupying 85% of the total rubber area in India was chosen for the study. The data was analyzed using ANOVA and Standard Error (SE) Means for the base data and extrapolated to ecosystem-level calculation. Results revealed a total ecosystem carbon loss of 2142, 5355, 10710 tons for 23 years and 3415, 8538, 17075 tons for 30 years under deforested area of 10, 25, and 50 hectares, respectively. The carbon loss (tons) from tree biomass (tons) removal was 570, 1425, 2850, litter fall was 575, 1438, 2875 and sheet rubber was 432, 1080, 2160 for 23 year plantation. In 30 years plantation, carbon loss from tree biomass was 1480, 3700, 740, litter fall was 750, 1875, 3750, and sheet rubber was 621, 1553, 3105 tons. Total soil carbon stock loss (tons) was 565, 1413 and 2825 for both 23 and 30 years, since the soil carbon stock was calculated similarly with one value for both plantation years. Other studied clones such as RRII 414, RRII 429, and RRII 417 recorded 44-50 percent higher carbon loss compared to RRII 105. The highest carbon loss was recorded in the central part and lowest in the area with severe drought. The study clearly depicts the importance of rubber plantations in mitigating climate change due to massive removal of rubber plantations, an important economically and environmentally sustainable agro ecosystem. The study recommends for putting in place appropriate policies and regulations to restrict the removal of economic tree plantations for ecosystem sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]