To date, the areal extent, carbon pools, rate of carbon accumulation, and role of peatlands of the former Soviet Union (FSU) in the terrestrial carbon cycle has not been fully recognized. This is a consequence of the fact that many peatlands in the FSU, especially noncommercial peatlands, were never studied and properly mapped. An estimate of the areal extent, carbon pools, and rate of carbon accumulation in peatlands of the FSU obtained by interrelating a number of regional databases and maps, including formerly classified maps, is presented herein. Commercial peatlands were categorized by regional type which facilitated an evaluation of their age and quality. Noncommercial peatlands were evaluated from classified regional topographic maps. Air photographs were used to identify peatlands of northern landscapes. The total peatland area of the FSU was estimated at 165 Mha (106 hectares) which was two times greater than the most recent estimates based on thematic maps. The peat carbon pool was estimated at 215 Pg C. Half of this amount was in raised bogs. The rate of peat accumulation varied from 12 g C m−2 yr−1 (polygonal mires) to 72–80 g C m−2 yr−1 (fens and marshes). The total rate of carbon accumulation in FSU peatlands was 52 Tg C yr−1. Carbon emissions from peat utilization in the FSU were estimated at 122 Tg C yr−1. Thus, at present, peat accumulation/utilization in the FSU is a net source of approximately 70 Tg C yr−1 to the atmosphere.

The carbon budget of the forest biomes of the former Soviet Union (FSU) and their sequestration potential were assessed by considering (1) net ecosystem productivity (NEP) of different age forest stands and actual forest coverage, (2) carbon flux related to forest fires, (3) the rate of peat accumulation, and (4) anthropogenic influences. The area of forest biomes in the FSU was estimated at 1426.1 million hectares (Mha); forest ecosystems comprised 799.9 Mha, nonforest ecosystems and arable land comprised 506.3 and 119.9 Mha, respectively. The vegetation pool (phytomass and coarse woody debris) was 68.7 Gt C (carbon). The litter and soil carbon pools were 12.2 and 319.1 Gt C, respectively. The net primary productivity (NPP) of forest biomes ecosystems was 5.6 Gt C/yr, the rate of foliage formation was 2.3 Gt C/yr, the rate of humus formation was 161 Mt C/yr with 73 Mt C/yr in the stable form. The NEP of the forest biomes was assessed from the data on NEP of young, middle‐age, and premature forest stands. The NEP of the forest biomes was 825 Mt C/yr. Peat was accumulating at an average rate of 23 Mt C/yr. Carbon effluxes from mortmass, litter, and soil organic matter decomposition were calculated from the NPP, NEP, foliage, and humus formation rates. The efflux from mortmass decomposition was 2.6 Gt C/yr, from litter decomposition 2.1 Gt C/yr, and from soil organic matter decomposition 61 Mt C/yr. Peat combustion represented a carbon efflux of 30 Mt C/yr. The carbon efflux from forest fires and agricultural activities was 199 and 10 Mt C/yr, respectively. Carbon efflux from wood harvesting (carbon sequestration in regrowing vegetation was excluded) was 152 Mt C/yr. Considering all components of the natural carbon cycle and the anthropogenic influences, FSU forest biomes were a net sink of 485 Mt C/yr of atmospheric carbon. The Siberian and Far East forests represent approximately 82% of the net sink. The total carbon sink in FSU forests was equivalent to one half of the annual CO2 fossil fuel emissions in the FSU or one half the carbon released from deforestation in subtropical regions.

Natural processes in ocean and terrestrial ecosystems together with human activities have caused a measurable increase in the atmospheric concentration of CO2. It is predicted that an increase in the concentration of CO2 will cause the Earth's temperatures to rise and will accelerate rates of plant respiration and the decay of organic matter, disrupting the equilibrium of the terrestrial carbon cycle. Forests are an important component of the biosphere, and sequestration of carbon in boreal forests may represent one of the few realistic alternatives to ameliorate changes in atmospheric chemistry. The former Soviet Union has the greatest expanse of boreal forests in the world; however, the role of Soviet forests in the terrestrial carbon cycle is not fully understood because the carbon budget of the Soviet forest sector has not been established. In recognition of the need to determine the role of Soviet forests in the global carbon cycle, the carbon budget of forest biomes in the former Soviet Union was assessed based on an equilibrium analysis of carbon cycle pools and fluxes. Net primary productivity was used to identify the rate of carbon turnover in the forest biomes. Net primary productivity was estimated at 4360 Mt of carbon, the vegetation carbon pool was estimated at 110 255 Mt, the litter carbon pool was estimated at 17 525 Mt, and the soil carbon pool was estimated at 319 100 Mt. Net primary productivity of Soviet forest biomes exceeded industrial CO2 emissions in the former Soviet Union by a factor of four and represented approximately 7% of the global terrestrial carbon turnover. Carbon stores in the phytomass and soils of forest biomes of the former Soviet Union represented 16% of the carbon concentrated in the biomass and soils of the world's terrestrial ecosystems. All carbon pools of Soviet forest biomes represented approximately one-seventh of the world's terrestrial carbon pool.

No abstract

No abstract