The contribution of common lands to carbon sequestration: A case study from Triglav National Park in Slovenia

Mateja Šmid Hribar; Daniela Ribeiro; Miguel  Villoslada

doi:10.3986/AGS.14491

Authors

Mateja Šmid Hribar Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Ljubljana, Slovenia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5445-0865
Daniela Ribeiro Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Ljubljana, Slovenia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0511-3293
Miguel Villoslada University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Kuopio, Finland https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7777-6577

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3986/AGS.14491

Keywords:

commons, governance, ecosystem services, carbon sequestration, forest, MODIS Net Primary Production, Slovenia

Abstract

In this article, we explore the role of the Slovenian common lands managed by agrarian communities in providing ecosystem services. The study focuses on the Triglav National Park area with a fairly high proportion of common lands. We assessed the ecosystem service carbon sequestration, using MODIS Net Primary Production as a proxy, downscaled to a spatial resolution of 10 m. Despite the moderate overall carbon sequestration capacity of common lands, their forests and scrublands, which cover 14% of Triglav National Park and are characterised by higher productivity, play an important role due to their spatial extent. However, as Slovenia’s forests have experienced a decline in carbon sequestration capacity since 2014, improved management by private owners, including agrarian communities, supported by national and EU funds, is key to strengthening this vital ecosystem service.

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References

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