CO2Fix

The CO2FIX stand level simulation model is a tool which quantifies the C stocks and fluxes in the forest biomass, the soil organic matter and the wood products chain. The model calculates the carbon balance with a time-step of one year. Basic input is stem volume growth and allocation pattern to the other tree compartments (foliage, branches and roots).

Carbon stocks in living biomass are calculated as the balance between growth on the one hand and turnover, mortality and harvest on the other hand. Litter from turnover and mortality processes and logging slash form the input for the soil module. The organic matter decomposes and transforms into soil organic matter.

The harvested stemwood is tracked through processing lines via product classes with different lifespans to its final fate: decomposition in landfills or dumps, or used as a source for bioenergy. The bioenergy module calculates the benefits for greenhouse gas emissions of the use of biomass instead of fossil fuels. Fuel sources for bioenergy can be either logging slash or industrial residues (processing losses or discarded products).

In the financial module, costs and revenues can be specified to get an indication of the profitability of the project. In the carbon accounting module, the user will get an indication of the amount of credits that can be generated with the project according to different types of crediting systems (tCERs and lCERs for CDM-AR projects and the stock change method for other projects).

The model produces output in tabular and graphic forms. It allows estimating the time evolution at the stand level of the carbon stored in different pools of the system. The CO2FIX model V 3.1 is applicable to many different situations: afforestation projects, agroforestry systems, and selective logging systems.

The model is freely available from the web, together with numerous examples.