By Ranil Senanayake –
Addressing Climate Change: Part III
The third question was on the value of Photosynthetic Biomass (PB). It is basic high school knowledge that the production of Oxygen, sequestering of Carbon, water cycling and ambient cooling is carried out by the photosynthetic component of biomass. It is these very same actions that are being accepted globally as Ecosystem Services with recognized economic values. But the thing that produces these services is being lost at an exponential rate, due to the fact that these Ecosystem Services have not been valued, nor economically recognized.
Although the volume of living biomass as now been captured on most global models of carbon cycling and as the measure of living biomass is being used in the evaluation of carbon stocks with increasing frequency, there is a an urgent need to address the fundamental differences between the components of living biomass. Living biomass is present as two fundamentally different components, photosynthetic biomass and respiring biomass.
Photosynthetic biomass performs the act of primary production, the initial step in the manifestation of life. The biomass so termed has the ability to increase in mass through the absorption of solar radiation while releasing oxygen and water vapor into the atmosphere. As outlined above, it is only photosynthetic biomass that powers carbon sequestration, carbohydrate production, oxygen generation and water transformation, i.e. all actions essential for the sustainability of the life support system of the planet. Yet currently, it is only the product of photosynthetic biomass, as sequestered carbon, usually represented by wood/timber that has been recognized as having commercial value in the carbon market for mitigating climate change. The photosynthetic biomass for terrestrial ecosystems is largely composed of the leaves of terrestrial vegetation, it is the leafy component that contributes to primary production. This component varies greatly in size and temporality.
In computing value, the relative value of leaves have to be considered in terms of their representation in different ecosystems. In a forest, shade-tolerant, late-succession tree species possess significantly larger leaves compared to early-succession, shade-intolerant species. Usually, leaf sizes and leaf numbers tend to be negatively correlated, i.e. the larger the leaf-size the less in number and vice-versa.
The sheer power of operation of the terrestrial photosynthetic system is seen when the volume of water released from photosynthetic biomass is considered, at a water release rate of 100:1, where over 100 molecules of water are released for each molecule of carbon dioxide absorbed by the leaf. The quantity of water released annually by forests and grasslands are like aerial rivers cycling about 6250 billion tons of water into the atmosphere per cycle. This quantity of evaporative water not only greatly influences local cooling events, but also contributes to the distribution of heat in the atmosphere. One of the most significant consequences of evapotranspiration by terrestrial vegetation is the cleaning effect on groundwater, releasing polluted ground water freed of the chemical pollutants that it was once burdened with. This cleaning function is hardly recognized nor evaluated.
The oxygen generation function is taken for granted, but as the recent studies of the hole in the stratospheric shield of ozone show, the phenomenon is expected to last for several decades. Increasing the oxygen producing function of the biosphere, can certainly contribute to the stabilization of the ozone shield. It can also help to allay the impact of massive rates of combustion required for much of modern society. However up to date we have failed to recognize the economic value of the oxygen generation function.
It seems imperative that a real value be placed on photosynthetic biomass; initial computations can begin by considering the current values suggested for the global market for similar functions. The estimated value of the carbon market was in excess of 250 billion. Thus if we consider the current value of 125 billion dollars that has been placed on containing climate change, the value of photosynthetic biomass can now be addressed. Assuming that the market would pay at least the value of controlling climate change, the 93.1 billion tons of photosynthetic carbon currently in stock would be roughly worth about 2.20 dollars per kilogram.
This comes as a surprise when the current models of carbon sequestering to combat climate change is examined, many models discount or place a low value of leaves and twigs which are often removed or bulked before the sequestered (fixed) carbon is measured. This photosynthetic biomass, often considered being too short lived in accounting for carbon sequestering. But it is actually the most valuable component.
Slowing down the loss of global terrestrial photosynthetic biomass stock is not an option – it is a critical need! A massive investment must go towards incrementing the global photosynthetic biomass stock. The potential value of this stock can also attract the investment to develop market growth.
The current approaches to tree farming and forest management needs to accept this potential of photosynthetic biomass and work towards realizing its value. For management purposes, the photosynthetic biomass of a natural ecosystem has to be seen as a continuum of native species from the early seral or developmental stages represented by annuals and short-lived species, to shrubs and bushes, to pioneer trees, to the mature tree dominated, old growth forest. If each stage is encouraged to carry its full complement of photosynthetic biomass, it will help ensure that the management plans address the generation and maintenance of the optimal levels of photosynthetic biomass in each seral stage and gain the corresponding value.
This questions raises the possibility that most nations moving towards a responsible development paradigm could capitalize their standing photosynthetic biomass and find the resources required for their progress away from fossil addiction. As Sri Lanka has stated its goal of moving away from fossil addiction building policy around these climate realities, will assist in building new options for the future.
Jim softy / January 12, 2016
Good point. Forest concept should be used in crop growth. for example, in between cocnut other smaller crops can be grown. Around paddy fiels other short crops can be grown.
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JJ / January 13, 2016
Paying people for maintaining living trees sounds like an excellent way to help anyone who has even a small garden to increase their income, as well as to increase our tree-cover. This would also create habitats for many species.
Also, if this is true, this is a great chance for the economic system to recognize the real value of trees as living things
Have the concerned ministries done anything about this matter after COP21?
If not, it should be brought to the notice of the Ministry of Environment post haste!
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ramona therese fernando / January 13, 2016
Ranil Senanayake,
Thank God they have actually placed $$125-billion on Carbon Sequestering! Naturally that should mean carbon sequestering from living biomass of forests. That should mean the preservation of our ancient forests.
But what’s with carbon sequestering being “usually represented by wood/timber that has been recognized as having commercial value in the carbon market for mitigating climate change.”
Do you mean that wood chips will also sequester carbon? Will commercialization of the trees actually pave the way for a transformative structure of the globe, and replace crude pollution?
Can’t believe that in the midst of the climate crisis, they are still bluffing on the TRUE Carbon Sequestering from forest biomass, and instead replacing it with the abuse towards the natural lives of trees and forests.
This is a ploy by Western nations, who destroyed all their forests, to get most of the $125-billion for themselves!
(there goes our famous Sri Lankans to destroy even more sacred Lankan forests and make a few millions for themselves).
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Punitham / January 13, 2016
Thanks a lot.
So we need to have an appropriate infrastructure with policies and impementation in various vertical and horizontal levels of the complex system of increasing complexity.
Even the composition of Ministries is very crucial for good results.
But what do we have now?
A soup of ministries – each Ministry itself is a soup, eg
i.Minstry of Higher Education and Highways!
ii. Environment is coupled with Mahaweli Development in one Ministry while there is a separate Ministry for Sustainable Development and Wildlife!!
iii. ……….
What are we going to have the vegetation on with disasters in sandmining and rockmining resulting in soil erosion and landslides?
At last we have a Circular: Environment Circular 02/2015 – Soil and Gravel Mining -put out by the Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment last September.
mHow many people know about it? It has very uch relevance for the issues raised by this article.
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Punitham / January 13, 2016
For readers’ benefit:
Environment Circular 02/2015- Soil and Gravel Mining,
http://www.environmentmin.gov.lk/web/images/pdf/circular%2002-2015%20english.pdf
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ramona therese fernando / January 14, 2016
Punitham,
It is an excellent thing, what say about the appropriate infrastructure with policies and implementation in various vertical and horizontal levels of the complex system of increasing complexity.
But the greatest one of them all is : The Preservation Of Our Very Own Natural Ancient Forests!
We need not cut down our forests to achieve the same modern standard as 1-st world countries, but become post-modern, and work around our forests to achieve our very own 1st-world standard.
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