Workshop on technical and scientific aspects of ecosystems with high-carbon reservoirs not covered by other agenda items under the Convention

24–25 October 2013 in Bonn, Germany

In October 2013, the IAI participated in the UNFCCC “Workshop on technical and scientific aspects of ecosystems with high-carbon reservoirs not covered by other agenda items under the Convention”. This provided a young researcher from the Tropi-Dry network, Sandra Duran, an opportunity to highlight the role of biodiversity in maintaining carbon stocks. Changes in biodiversity may influence carbon gains and losses in an ecosystem. Studies have shown that the relation between biodiversity and carbon varies across ecosystem types and that biodiversity can have positive or negative effects on carbon storage. For example, liana abundance can decrease carbon stocks in humid forests, whereas in other ecosystems, depending on the type, a richness of species is accompanied by higher carbon stocks. In mature and secondary savannas, carbon stocks are highest under mixed-species stands. Biodiversity can also help to identify tipping points of an ecosystem.

The report of this workshop and presentations are available at http://unfccc.int/science/workshops_meetings/items/7797.php

Report on the workshop on technical and scientific aspects of ecosystems with high-carbon reservoirs not covered by other agenda items under the Convention