Feedbacks and Modelling Systems

The aim of Feedbacks and Modelling Systems Group of the NATO Carbon Sequestration Conference was to identify critical interactions which occur at the ecosystem level. For instance, results regarding CO₂ fertilization effects obtained at the plant level cannot be directly extrapolated to predict ecosystem responses without considering the iterative impact of CO₂ on water flow, nutrient cycling and competition between plant species. The Group considered these types of interactions at the ecosystem level and evaluated the state of present ecosystem models for predicting carbon sequestration in natural and managed ecosystems. The Group decided that it was impossible to discuss major objectives without considering the major options available for storing C in natural and managed systems. In fact, the group spent most of its time discussing the most viable options available for sequestering C in ecosystems. The first part of this document will discuss the evaluation of the Group relative to viable C sequestration options. The second part will present recommendations about improvements needed in existing ecosystem models in order to evaluate the potential for sequestration of carbon in ecosystems.