The estimation of emissions and removals is done using a complex methodology which was developed by the IPCC. The estimation is gas specific. For details on the Hungarian adaptation of the methodology and other details, see Somogyi 2008, National Inventory Report (NIR) of Hungary 2010, CRF of Hungary, and also the KP LULUCF report of Hungary 2010.

Carbon-dioxide

CO₂ emissions are calculated from estimated carbon stock changes. Due to lack of data, these changes can only be estimated for the above-ground biomass and the below-ground biomass. Based on the latest forest inventory data available, and based on our current understanding of carbon stock changes in forests, the Hungarian forests are sinks, which means that they sequester more carbon (i.e., they remove more CO₂ from the air) than what they emit. Sequestration occurs due to photosynthesis, whereas emission occur due to decomposition of dead trees, harvesting, as well as forest fires and controlled burning.

The rate of sequestration is estimated for full calendar years. In other words, statistics include all carbon that is fixed during a year. The rate of sequestration varies within a year, but also from one year to another, due to variability of climate and other factors that affect tree growth, respiration and decomposition, but also due to the variability of human activities, i.e. harvest from year to year.

The total amount of net sequestration by calendar year is reported in the table below for years 1985-2010. In statistics like this, emissions are usually positive numbers, thus, the below negative numbers demonstrate that the forests in Hungary are sinks.

Source: National Inventory Report (NIR) of Hungary 2010, CRF of Hungary, and KP LULUCF report of Hungary 2010

Non-CO₂ emissions

In forests, just like in other ecosystems, but also in settlements, industry and transportation, many greenhouse gases are exchanged between the air and other pools in addition to carbon-dioxide. The most important such gases in forests are methane, carbon-monoxide and nitrous oxides. In an attempt to have an idea of the importance of these gases in the Hungarian forestry, we also estimated the emission of some non-CO₂ greenhouse gases, by also applying the methodology developed by the IPCC. Such emissions mainly occur due to controlled burning of slash (i.e., residues of wood harvesting) and wildfires. The emissions from wildfires can only be estimated since 1999.

Note that non-CO₂ greenhouse gases have different warming effects. The measure of these effects are called "Global warming potentials". The greenhouse gas effect of CH₄ is 21-times stronger that of CO₂. The respective value for N₂O is 310! Thus, although the numbers in the below table seem to be small, they are in fact important. However, the below estimates are rather uncertain due to the nature of the emissions and the respective gases, and are here for information only.

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