CARBO-AGE: Age-Related Dynamics of Carbon Exchange In European Forests

The central objective of the CARBO-AGE project is to analyze the role of European forests as carbon sinks over their life-time. This will enable CO2 flux data collected at individual stands (as in EUROFLUX) to be used for scaling-up, and it will enable new management options for carbon sequestration to be devised. The six work packages are (1) to measure stocks of carbon at five sites over Europe, including carbon in biomass and soil; (2) to measure CO2 fluxes using eddy covariance in the 'roving tower' approach, over a chronosequence which will include existing CARBOEUROFLUX sites; (3) to measure soil respiration over time, also in the chronosequence; (4) to model the age-related changes in net primary production (NPP) and net ecosystem production (NEP), so that these models can be used as a management tool; (5) to develop products for users and stakeholders, so that such people can estimate the likely uptake of carbon by forests; and (6) to actively communicate with media, policymakers and stakeholders, thus disseminating results of research to a wider community. Milestones and expected results include: (1) database of C-storage in five chronosequences throughout Europe; (2) half-hourly flux data, enabling testing of models of the stand life-cycle; (3) soil respiration data and model of the flux of carbon from the soil; (4) reliable models of NPP and NEP, with tables and recommendations for practitioners; (5) internet-based model of the forest as a carbon sink; and (6) training courses for consultancy companies and other stakeholders.