Carbon stocks across different environments, disturbance regimes, and stand age in Fitzroya cupressoides forests, the longest-lived species of the southern hemisphere

Forest disturbances influence Fitzroya cupressoides forest structure and carbon stocks at multiple spatial temporal scales. Natural such as landslides volcanism affect give rise to the mostly pristine stands present in Andean cordillera. On other hand, human-caused fires logging have been main processes shaping of Coastal range small remnants Central depression. The goal this study was assess accumulation rates according their development stage under different disturbance regimes environmental conditions given by three physiographic units where species grows (Coastal range, depression, range). site selection included an age sequence stands, known a chronosequence approach. We identified post-disturbance stages development: young (mean stand cohort ? 200 years old), mature (200–800 old growth (800–1,500 old). following biomass components were considered: living standing trees, dead trees (snags), logs from laying on ground (coarse woody debris). Old-growth forests reached mean total stock (standing live snags, coarse debris) 507, 279, 331 Mg C ha ?1 ranges, respectively. contributes, average, more than 80% 63% remainder corresponds mainly Nothofagus spp. high old-growth are explained longevity, larger size, wood decay resistance, low recurrence volcanic events. Carbon differ between (Central depression>Andean range>Coastal range), due each unit. In context climate change, conserving with large restoring should be recognized key contribution toward national global goals mitigate warming.