Spatial Inventory of CO2 Emissions and Removals from Land Use and Land Use Changes in Thailand

Abstract

The main objective of this study aims to implement the spatial inventory of Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) emissions and removals during 2007-2012 resulting from carbon stock changes in biomass for all types of land. The methodological approach and land-use categories were based on the 2006 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines in the Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sector. To depict the spatial extend and distribution of CO₂ emissions and removals, Geographic Information System (GIS) was applied as a key tool for accounting the land-use changes and quantifying amount of CO₂ emissions per unit area. The results indicated that changes of above and below ground biomass during five years period lead to the net total CO₂ values of 15.32, 0.93, -0.59, and 0.02 MtCO₂ in Nan, Udonthani, Suratthani and Bangkok respectively. The proportions of CO₂ emissions in Nan were larger than CO₂ removals which were a result of conversions of forest land to crop land. In Udonthani, there are small amount of CO₂ emission due to the conversions of forest land to the various types of cropland. In Bangkok, there are the lowest CO₂ emissions during the study time period. This is because of the small proportions of above and below ground biomass. To accomplish the inventory in Bangkok, it needs to calculate an amount of CO₂ emission from other sectors. As a result of net CO₂ among emission and removal, it could be concluded that Suratthani was identified as a CO₂ sink. This is mainly due to the large coverage of forest land and perennial crop e.g. rubber and oil palm. In contrast, Nan was recognized as a CO₂ source with the large amount of CO₂ emission. The success of this study will lead to benefit for monitoring CO₂ status and for implementing more sustainable action, strategies, good practices and practical policy for CO₂ reductions at the local level for supporting the low carbon city.