Impact of forest ecosystem restoration project on achieving carbon neutrality : A case study of Post-Wildfire Restoration areas, South Korea

Forest ecosystems are large carbon sinks, that absorb around 50% of the carbon in terrestrial ecosystems. Forests are being destroyed by a variety of factors, including climate change, human activities, and natural disturbances. Especially, forest fires cause catastrophic damage to forest ecosystems. This destruction of forest ecosystems negatively affects carbon uptake and creates uncertainty in achieving carbon neutrality.
In Korea, nature-based solutions are being applied in forest restoration projects in areas damaged by forest fires. As forest restoration projects cause further ecosystem instability, it is uncertain how much they will change carbon uptake in achieving carbon neutrality.
We analyze the stability period of forest ecosystem recovery using the BFAST algorithm for forest damage recovery areas in Korea, and estimate the change in carbon uptake using the CASA model. Based on this, we will examine the effectiveness of nature-based solutions and discuss the stabilization period that can be recognized as carbon credits and the possibility of carbon neutrality.