Exeter Carbon Observatory website

The ExCO has now a new website where you can find details of the project, latest news and documents. The webpage is being develop and we hope that soon this page will be an important source of resources for Exeter students and the public in general.

To find out more about the ExCO webpage and the program, please visit:


https://sites.google.com/site/exetercarbonobservatory/

Mitigation Potential of UK Forests

I am currently a week into my data collection in Stoke Woods. The aim of my project is to calculate the above and below-ground biomass of three mixed broadleaf stands varying in ages (1862, 1916 and 1979).

The data collection involves different techniques to estimate the 4 main sub components (above-ground tree biomass, litter layer, coarse woody debris and soil organic carbon) in order to estimate the total biomass for each stand.

Three plots (25m x 25m) have been set up in each stand using a compass and type measure. Each corner has been marked with a pole and attached with barrier type to easily distinguish between what trees are in and out of the plot.

Once the plots were set up, I began measuring the Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) for trees equal and greater than 10cm, marking each tree with a tag number. However due to the dominance of younger trees, I have also measured the DBH between 5-10cm in each plot to allow for further comparison of age and species. The 4 dominant species within each plot are Beech, Sycamore, Holly and Ash.

The next sub component to measure was the coarse woody debris (CWD). All fallen and standing coarse woody debris equal or greater than 5cm diameter within the plot boundaries were measured and classified into decomposition classes. For fallen CWD, the length and diameters at both ends were measured.

Next week, I will begin to measure the litter layer (0.5m x 0.5m) and take soil samples (0-10cm, 10-20cm, 20-30cm). Once I have collected this data, I will be able to begin estimating the biomass for each subcomponent and add these together to calculate the total biomass for each stand.

Stoke Woods: The first ExCO field site in Exeter

www.forestry.gov.uk/website/recreation.nsf/LUWebDocsByKey/EnglandDevonNoForestStokeWoods

Overview

Last week the sun came back to welcome the implementation of the first ExCO field site!

Figure2. First evaluation of the site by Luiz and Iain. 

Activities for setting up the site's carbon monitoring scheme have started in Stoke Woods. The ExCO is supported by University of Exeter's Annual Fund and is led by Dr Luiz Aragao and Dr Iain Hartley. 

Our aim is to involve students from all levels and society in research carried out in the site. 

As a long-term initiative we expect to be able to use it as a catalyst of information on the role of forests for mitigating global warming.

Current Activities

To help quantifying the role of UK forest in assimilating atmospheric CO2, University of Exeter Master's student David Crookes is using the site to carry out his research. David will be surveying trees in mixed broadleaf stands with different ages to evaluate their contribution to  atmospheric carbon dioxide sequestration in Stoke Woods.

Figure 3. David using his GPS to locate the suitable sites.

Figure 4. David setting up one of the monitoring field plots                                                         

The site is a wonderful woods. The area is plenty of ancient oak trees and mixed broadleaf stands. Forestry Commission's plans for the site is to allow the native forest to regrowth. During the transition between managed to native woods, native species will grow and will tell us the current capacity of native regeneration to sequester CO2 from the atmosphere. 

Other two Exeter students will be also using this site for their dissertation. We will keep you posted on the progress of their work.

    

Figure 5. Stoke Woods Ancient Oak tree 

Next Steps

We will be out there throughout the summer and are expecting great participation of Exeter students, volunteers and the society in general to understand and protect this spectacular natural resource that  Woodlands are able to offer. 


For further contact and information please follow the link below.


http://geography.exeter.ac.uk/staff/index.php?web_id=Luiz_Aragao