Early assessment of tree species with potential for carbon offset plantations in degraded area from the southeastern Brazil

A database on the performance of native plants under different environmental conditions can improve the selection of species most suitable for carbon offset programs. The objective of this work was to identify the potential of 25 tree species for carbon offsetting in a degraded area in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, with a scoring system based on the survival rate (SV) and average annual carbon increment (IMAC). The diameter and height of trees were measured to estimate the annual increments to select those to be scaling by species by the non-destructive method, and to estimate the volume and carbon of each plant by species. The mean SV of trees was 47% with high variability ranging from 5 to 100%, especially for Schinus terebinthifolius (100%); Sapindus saponaria (95%); Senna multijuga (80%); Handroanthus chrysotricha (80%); Plathymenia foliolosa (75%); Cassia grandis (75%) and Colubrina glandulosa (60%), all pioneers except for H. chrysotricha and C. grandis. The lowest SV were for Caesalpinia peltophoroides (20%); Tibouchina granulosa (10%); Anadenanthera pavonina (5%); Cariniana legalis (5%); Samanea inopinata (5%) and Syzygium jambos (5%), all non-pioneering species, except for A. pavonina. The growth of non-pioneer species was generally lesser than pioneer ones, except for Ceiba speciosa. Among non-pioneers, T. granulosa, Bombacopsis glabra and C. grandis stood out for the hight growth. None of the species reached a maximum score (10 points) for the sum of the parameters considered. The highest scores (nine points) were for Schizolobium parahyba and S. multijulga, both pioneers. The lowest scores (two points) were for A., Cariniana legalis, Lecythis pisonis, Samanea Inopinata and S. jambos followed by Cedrela fissilis, Caesalpinia peltophoroides, Cytharexyllum myrianthum, Hymenaea courbaril, Psidium guineense and Tibouchina granulosa (three points) and Anadenanthera macrocarpa and Sterculia chicha (four points). The methodology adopted allowed the assessment on of the potential of plant species for carbon offsetting projects in degraded areas, specifically in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest