Alejandro Vega Escobar

Mr. Alejandro Vega Escobar

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Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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16 April 2025 in Forests
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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AEAlejandro Vega Escobar
Alejandro Vega Escobar
FGFrancois Girard
Francois Girard
Osvaldo ValeriaOsvaldo Valeria
Osvaldo Valeria
Forest road networks are essential for forest operations but significantly contribute to carbon loss and landscape fragmentation in boreal ecosystems. This study evaluates the potential of reforesting unused forest roads to enhance carbon storage (CS) in Quebec’s boreal forests. Four reforestation scenarios were simulated using spatial data from AQréseau+ and the Ecoforestry Map of Quebec, combined with the CBM-CFS3 carbon model. These scenarios varied in site preparation conditions and species selection, including the use of fast-growing local species. Random forest (RF) models were applied to analyze the influence of key variables on CS dynamics, focusing on the road area and years to harvest. The study area covered approximately 294,000 km2, and the temporal dimension was incorporated by estimating the construction dates of forest roads. Results show that scenarios integrating soil preparation and fast-growing species (S1I1) achieved the highest CS potential, with up to 6.8 million tons (Mt) of additional carbon stored over a 40–100 year period for medium-category roads, compared to 1.15 million tons in scenarios without intervention (S0I0). These findings underscore the role of reforestation in enhancing CS within managed forests. Future work should prioritize road segments for reforestation, considering ecological benefits, operational feasibility, and climate resilience.

8 April 2026 in Ecological Modelling
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
AEAlejandro Vega Escobar
Alejandro Vega Escobar
FGFrançois Girard
François Girard
Osvaldo ValeriaOsvaldo Valeria
Osvaldo Valeria