Economic Valuation of Carbon Sequestration Function in the Mixed and Pure Beech Stands (Case study: Kheyrud Forests)

Greenhouse effect is one of the most severe current environmental problems. Forest ecosystems with their complex structure and function can play an important role in mitigating the emissions of CO2 as the most important greenhouse gas. Forest biomass and soil can be considered as the sinks of carbon. Many factors such as canopy cover percentage, forest type and species diversity, of species age structure, environmental conditions, and forest management methods affect the carbon sequestration. In this study, carbon sequestration in soil and plant biomass in pure and mixed beech stands of Gorazbon district in Kheyrud forests was estimated and valued.The amount of carbon stored in forest tree foliage and ground was estimated using the photosynthesis formula and the sequestration of carbon in mineral and organic soil horizons was determined using experimental methods, Walkly–black and oven respectively. The results showed that there is a significant difference between amount of carbon sequestration by the mixed and pure beech stands in both plant and soil biomass and the pure stand stores more CO2 than mixed one. Finally, the economic value of carbon sequestration function was estimated using cost avoided damage method. The results revealed that the average value of pure beech stand is 9.5 million Rials ($ 320) and 8.3 million Rials ($ 275) ha/year respectively, in terms of carbon sequestration function.