Process-based model application and visualization of bamboo forest GPP for sustainable management

Although bamboo accounts for 10.3% of Taiwan’s forested area and is promoted for climate mitigation, there has been no spatially explicit research showing where it can reliably sequester carbon under local climate constraints. This study presents the first process-based modeling assessment for Taiwan’s bamboo forests by adapting a C3 plant functional type in a dynamic vegetation model with literature-based parameters to simulate gross primary production (GPP). The findings show that GPP is higher and more stable in northern low-altitude mountainous than in southern or lowland regions, with rainfall and temperature as the main limiting factors, indicating that subsidies and management should target northern montane sites where climate support sustained bamboo carbon uptake. To demonstrate these findings, a spatial query system was developed to display simulation outputs to assist in identifying suitable sites for sustained investment in existing bamboo forests. Based on this model application and visualization platform, we provide science-based recommendations for enhancing bamboo biomass accumulation and advancing nature-based solutions.