Cutting lianas can boost carbon sequestration in forests, finds study

Subject: Environment

Section: Species in news

Context:

A study published in 2023 has shed light on the carbon sequestration and timber production benefits of removing lianas, long-stemmed woody vines, from trees in managed forests.

Details of the study:

Lianas, which can significantly hinder tree growth by smothering them as they climb to the forest canopy, are more prevalent in areas disturbed by activities such as logging and natural events like wildfires.
The study suggests that removing lianas from just five trees per hectare across 250 million hectares of degraded managed land could eliminate 800 million tons of CO2 from the atmosphere over 30 years, at a minimal cost of $1.50 per hectare.
This method, emphasizing selective liana removal rather than a blanket approach, aims to enhance the growth of targeted trees for timber and carbon benefits while maintaining the ecological balance.
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is conducting trials, including one in the Belize Maya Forest, to determine the most effective methods of liana removal and its impact on tree species, forest connectivity, and biodiversity.
The trials also explore the potential of lianas for carbon storage versus the additional growth of trees without lianas.

Probable impact of removing liana:

Despite the potential benefits, concerns about the impact on biodiversity and the ecological role of lianas, which provide food, medicine, and habitat connectivity for various species, highlight the need for a balanced approach to liana cutting.
Trials in Gabon and Indonesia are exploring liana cutting alongside technologies like LiDAR and reduced impact logging systems to enhance both carbon sequestration and sustainable timber production.
The initiative underscores the possibility of harmonizing conservation efforts with timber production, suggesting that liana cutting could be a key strategy in managed forests to improve tree growth, carbon capture, and timber quality while supporting local economies and biodiversity.

Liana trees:

A liana is a long-stemmed, woody vine that is rooted in the soil at ground level and uses trees, as well as other means of vertical support, to climb up to the canopy in search of direct sunlight.
The word liana does not refer to a taxonomic grouping, but rather a habit of plant growth – much like tree or shrub.