Greenhouse gas emissions and removals in land and forests

Land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) is an important sector for the greenhouse gas (GHG) balance in Montenegro, with fluctuating emission values throughout the years. Net GHG removals, including every category of LULUCF, range from – 1 244.47 to – 2 276.56 kt of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂eq). The sector’s sink strength increased by .

Fluxes of carbon dioxide (CO₂) are dominant in the whole sector, with emissions of methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) contributing only marginally to the sector’s total GHG balance. Forest land represents the largest net removal category, with a net removal of – 2 513.04 kt CO₂eq in 2022, well above every other category in the sector regarding net removals/emissions. It is followed by harvested wood products, with a removal of – 11.66 kt CO₂eq in 2022, and settlements, with emissions of 62.64 kt CO₂eq in 2022. Data indicate that land use has been mostly stable in Montenegro, with only a small proportion of the total territory .