Studies by Embrapa Florestas show that the loss of carbon in soils converted to forest plantations is only 5% and not 33%, as previously believed. The update of this data is the result of the evolution of Brazilian science, which started to use the soil carbon change index (BAI) based on information from national surveys. In this way, the index more faithfully represents the specificities of the country and shows greater potential for mitigating greenhouse gases (GHGs) through forest plantations.

According to the research institution, the work was based on studies carried out in Brazil and published between 2002 and 2019, in areas converted to planted forests of eucalyptus, pine and black wattle. The data involved information obtained in nine states: RS, SC, PR, SP, ES, MG, BA, PA and MS, covering more than 8.6 million hectares of forest plantations. “In the case of this index, the calculation value was not consistent with the reality of forest plantations. However, as the studies progress, each country can adjust and refine these indices to the realities of their crops, which is what we did with the analyzed forest crops,” says Embrapa researcher Josileia Zanatta, who coordinated the study.