Economic Value Assessment of Forest Carbon Sequestration and Atmospheric Temperature Mitigation in the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria (South Italy)

Forest CO₂ sequestration and effective atmospheric temperature mitigation, two important aspects of the global warming mitigation strategy, are evaluated for the forested area of the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria (South Italy). Carbon Stock in different living (above- and below-ground biomass) and non-living (litter, necromass, and soil) pools, along with Carbon Flux, is estimated using a ground-based method that relies on National Forest Inventory data. The results are compared with those analogously estimated in a Northern Italian area (Trento Province) and both the similarities and the differences found in the way carbon gets into the diverse C-pools are discussed. C-Flux estimated values are also reported and discussed. An analysis of the qualitative composition of our Southern forest stands indicates that they are dominated by broadleaf trees, which are capable of effective atmospheric temperature mitigation. The contribution to the mitigation of global warming via CO₂ sequestration, although relatively low, is nevertheless noteworthy (15.000 Gg of C). Moreover, the economic values of this environmental asset are remarkably high, even when a low C-emission-trading market price is considered. Therefore, there is an urgent need to protect this forested area from negative human impacts (pollution, illegal cutting, and fires), while developing sustainable ways of exploiting it (e.g. by FSC-certification and Carbon Credits).