The effects of land-use and land-cover changes on carbon storage in forest timber biomass: a case study in Torul, Turkey

This study presents spatial and temporal changes of carbon storages of forest timber biomass in a typical forest management unit of the northeastern part of Turkey. The effects of land-use and land-cover changes on the amount of carbon storage are analyzed. Temporal changes of carbon storage of the area were estimated using forest inventory data. The spatial distribution of carbon densities was mapped using Geographic Information Systems (GISs). As an overall change between 1984 and 2005, there was a net increase of 12,379 ha in forested areas. The results indicated that the total amount of carbon stored in the above-and belowground forest ecosystems increased nearly by 47% from one period to the next mainly due to increase of forest area and the quality of forest ecosystem structure.