Spatial distribution and carbon stock of the Saxaul vegetation of the winter-cold deserts of Middle Asia |
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| Institution: | 1. Institute of Botany and Landscape Ecology, University of Greifswald, Grimmer Strasse 88, 17487 Greifswald, Germany;2. Michael Succow Foundation, Ellernholzstrasse 3, 17489 Greifswald, Germany;1. Department of Chemistry, Karakoram International University, Gilgit-Baltistan 15100, Pakistan;2. Department of Chemistry, University of Paderborn, Warburger Strasse 100, 33098 Paderborn, Germany;3. UoN Chair of Oman''s Medicinal Plants and Marine Natural Products, University of Nizwa, P.O Box 33, Postal Code 616, Birkat Al Mauz, Nizwa, Sultanate of Oman;4. Department of Biological Sciences, Karakoram International University, Gilgit-Baltistan 15100, Pakistan;5. HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan;1. IRD, UMR-220 GRED, 911, Av. Agropolis, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier Cedex 5, France;2. IRD and Aix-Marseille University, UMR 151 LPED, 3 place Victor Hugo, 13331 Marseille Cedex 3, France;1. Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow, 226007, India;2. Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, 33 General Mahadeo Singh Road, Dehradun, 248001, India;3. Waikhom Mani Girls'' College, Thoubal, 795138, Manipur, India;1. Department of Geography and Environment, University of Geneva, Uni Mail, 40 Boulevard du Pont-d’Arve, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland;2. Institut de Gouvernance de l’Environnement et de Développement Territorial, University of Geneva, Uni Mail, 40 Boulevard du Pont-d’Arve, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland;3. Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, Uni Rondeau, 7 Route de Drize, 1227 Carouge, Switzerland |
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| Abstract: | Carbon stocks and carbon accumulation in the earth's drylands have gained increasing attention. The winter-cold deserts of Middle Asia, i.e. in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, cover an area of 2.5 million km2. Within these deserts, the two Saxaul species White Saxaul (Haloxylon persicum Bunge ex Boiss. & Buhse) and Black Saxaul (Haloxylon aphyllum (Minkw.) Iljin) are dominant woody species with a potential distribution area of about 500,000 km2. From the 1950s until today, the Saxaul vegetation has been degraded through logging and over-grazing. In this paper, we estimate the current and potential living above ground and below ground biomass of the Saxaul vegetation and its carbon stock. The living above ground biomass ranges between 1.5 t/ha and 3 t/ha. The potential carbon stocks above ground and below ground amount to 29.4–52.1 million t and 22–81.4 million t, respectively. Today, only 11%–28% of the potential biomass and carbon stock have remained. The carbon stock of the Saxaul vegetation is low compared to other ecosystems of the earth, but restoration and conservation of Saxaul vegetation is one way to sequester carbon through vegetation for Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, which do not have much other woody vegetation. |
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