Abstract

The forest ecosystem is an important carbon sink and source containing majority of the above ground terrestrial organic carbon. The status of Tara Gedam forest is declining due to human activities. Sustainable management strategies are necessary to make this forest as carbon sink rather than source. To assess the forest’s carbon source potential, dry biomass is quantified since 50% its part is carbon. This study aims to estimate the biomass and carbon stocks of individual trees based on above and belowground biomass estimation models. Simple random sampling method was carried out for collecting the biophysical data for estimating above and belowground biomass of trees. Diameter at breast height (DBH) was measured at 1.3 m height above the ground. Sample plots were laid along line transects based on altitudinal variation of the study area. A randomly sampling plot of (10 m × 20 m) in each site was established to take vegetation samples. The soil samples were taken from soil depth up to 30 cm at the interval of 10 cm. The collected samples were burnt at 105°C for 24 hours in muffle furnace to calculate carbon content. Likewise, bulk density and soil organic carbon were obtained from the soil samples in the laboratory. The result revealed that, Cordia africana Lam. had the highest above ground biomass, 1799.284 ton/ha and below ground biomass, 359.858 ton/ha among other tree species in the study forest. The carbon sequestration in the soil with depth ranged from 0 cm to 30 cm was found to be 1006.763 ton/ha. 413.9536 ton/ha and 2681.292 ton/ha was the minimum and maximum CO2 values sequestered in soil carbon pool in the study area, respectively. A systematic approach for the inclusion of climate change risk management and adaptation is developed and guidelines for the design of ‘climate-change-proof’ afforestation, reforestation and deforestation avoidance projects are proposed.

Keywords: Adaptation, Carbon sequestration, Climate change, Forest, Soil organic carbon