RA3.1 REPORT: Carbon stocks and Fluxes

Carbon stocks and fluxes in New Zealand Myrtaceae

December 2021

Easdale T, McCarthy J, Bellingham P, Jo I, Richardson S, Wiser S. 2021. Carbon stocks and fluxes in New Zealand Myrtaceae. 39 p.

ABSTRACT

Understanding the potential impacts of myrtle rust on the integrity of natural forest ecosystems thus hinges on understanding the contribution of the Myrtaceae to the structure and dynamics of natural forests. Comprehensive assessments of tree-mediated contribution to wood production in the context of changing climates (Coomes et al. 2014) and stand-level forest biomass stock and growth (Holdaway et al. 2017) provide valuable initial background. However, understanding the specific role of Myrtaceae requires a new assessment, which we undertake here. To this end we provide an analytical stocktake of Myrtaceae’s contribution to national forest biomass stocks and fluxes.