Establishing Measurement and Modeling Logic of Carbon Sequestration in Pocket Forests for Decentralized Climate Action
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The article establishes a measurement and modeling framework to quantify carbon sequestration in pocket forests as part of a multi-year research program. Pocket forests are multi-layered native planting initiatives inspired by the Miyawaki method of afforestation, adapted for small-scale regenerative applications in urban and peri-urban contexts. In this study, a pocket forest is treated as a repeatable 10 m2 unit that can be distributed across small parcels and scaled through a network. The project examines how species composition and diversity affect above- and below-ground carbon storage under controlled field conditions. Twenty-one experimental plots were established with consistent soil preparation, planting density, plot geometry, and environmental exposure, while species diversity was varied from full capacity to reduced mixes and low-diversity reference conditions. The setup allows comparison of carbon-related performance across diversity levels and supports the development of a modeling framework linking proxy indicators and carbon sequestration potential. The initial phase focuses on system architecture, design criteria, baseline characterization, indicator selection, measurement integrity, sampling regime, and key parameter definition. Future phases will report temporal data and modeled outcomes to guide adaptive engineering of carbon-positive, self-sustaining landscapes.
Source: Sustainability
DOI: 10.3390/su18178769
Language: English
Subfield: Nature and Landscape Conservation
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDGs: Life on land, Climate action
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,896
OpenAlex ID: W7204476208