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Carbon Stock in Woody Plants of Humbo Forest and its Variation along Altitudinal Gradients: The Case of Humbo District, Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Received: 27 May 2015     Accepted: 11 June 2015     Published: 4 July 2015
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Abstract

Forests play a critical role in the natural global carbon cycle by capturing carbon from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. However, Ethiopia does not have carbon inventories and databank to monitor and enhance carbon sequestration potential of different forests. As result, this study was conducted in Humbo forest with the overall objective of estimating the total carbon stock in woody plants and its variation along altitudinal gradients, as well as its implication for climate change mitigation. The above and below ground biomass, dead litter biomass and soil carbon were measured and estimated by using allometric equations. Trees with DBH>2.5 cm were measured for their height and diameter at breast height, and the result was analyzed by SPSS software, version 20. The findings of the study showed that Syzigium guineese(L.) Skeels was the most dominant and Prunus africana (Hook. f.) Kal was the least dominant one. The average carbon stock of the study area was 30.77, 14.46, 12.55, and 168.2 ton/ha, in above ground biomass, below ground biomass, dead litter, and soil, respectively. The variation of carbon pools between altitudinal gradient was not significant. The total maximum and minimum carbon stock estimated was 361.63 and 58.49 ton/ha, respectively, with the average value of 225.98 ton/ha. The estimated money term of carbon dioxide sequestered in one hectare was $6087.429 USD in average. This implies that the forest managed for carbon trading (to get money) indirectly sequesters about 829.35 ton /ha, in average.

Published in International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy (Volume 3, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijepp.20150304.13
Page(s) 97-103
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2015. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Altitudinal Gradient, Carbon Stock Potential, DBH, Height, Woody Plants

References
[1] Adugna Feyissa, Teshome Soromessa and Mekuria Argaw (2013). Forest Carbon Stocks and Variations along Altitudinal Gradients in Egdu Forest: Implications of Managing Forests for Climate Change Mitigation. J.STAR 2(4): 40–46.
[2] Bhishma, P. S., Shiva, S. P., Ajay, P., Eak, B. R., Sanjeeb, B., Tibendra, R. B., Shambhu, C., and Rijan, T. (2010). Forest Carbon Stock Measurement: Guidelines for measuring carbon stocks in community-managed forests, Kathmandu, Nepal. ANSAB pp.17–43.
[3] Chambers,J.Q., Santos, J .D., Ribeiro, R.J. and Higuchi, N. (2001). Tree damage, allometric relationships, and above-ground net primary production in central Amazon forest. Forest Ecology and Management152:73–84.
[4] Chave, J., Andalo, C., Brown, S., Cairns, M. A., Chambers, J. Q., Eamus , D., Folster, H., Fromard, F.,Higuchi ,N., Kira, T., Lescure , J.P., Nelson, B. W. , Ogawa , H., Puig, H., Riera, B. and Yamakura , T.(2005). Tree allometry and improved estimation of carbon stocks and balance in tropical forests. Oecologia 145: 87–99.
[5] Emmanuel Amankwah (2013). Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA); A Useful Tool to Address Climate Change in Ghana. International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy, Vol 1(4): 94-100.
[6] FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization of United Nations, 2010). Global Forest Resources Assessment. Country Report, Ethiopia,FRA 065.
[7] Humbo/Soddo Community Managed Forestry Project staff and Rinaudo, T. (2007). Forest Fire Management Plan, Humbo, Ethiopia Assisted Regeneration Project. World Vision Australia.
[8] IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 1996) .Guidelines for National Green House gases inventories: Reference Manual (Revised).
[9] Keith Openshaw (2014). Forest Bioenergy or Forest Carbon: A Review. International Journal of Sustainable and Green Energy. Vol. 3(6): 132-142.
[10] Lal, R.(2004). Soil carbon sequestration to mitigate climate change.Geoderma123: 1–22.
[11] Malhi, Y., Meir,P. and Brown, S.(2002). Forests, Carbon and Global Climate. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond.360: 1567–1591.
[12] Mesfin Sahile (2011). Estimating and Mapping of Carbon Stocks based on Remote Sensing, GIS and Ground Survey in the Menagesha Suba State Forest. M.Sc. Thesis(unpublished), Addis Ababa University.
[13] Mohammed Gedefaw, Teshome Soromessa and Satishkumar Belliethathan(2014). Forest Carbon Stocks in Woody Plants of Tara Gedam Forest: Implication for Climate Change Mitigation. J.STAR 3(1): 101-107.
[14] Olive, G. F., Hernandez, G. and Lancho. J. F. G. (2006). Comparison of ecosystem Carbon pools in three forests in Spain and Latin America. Ann. For. Sci.63, 519–523.
[15] Pearson, T., Walker, S. and Brown, S. (2005). Sourcebook for land-use, land-use change and forestry projects. Arlington, pp19–35.
[16] Pearson, T. R., Brown, S. L. and Birdsey, R. A. (2007). Measurement guidelines for the sequestration of forest carbon.USDA Forest Service 19073–3294.
[17] RPN (Responsible for Purchasing Network, 2009). Responsible Purchasing guide, Carbon Offsets, Center for New American Drean.
[18] Schlesinger, W.H.(1990). Evidence from chronosequence studies for a low carbon-storage potential in soil: Letters to Nature. North Carolina 27706.
[19] Sheikh, M.A., Kumar, M. and Bussmann, R.W. (2009). Altitudinal variation in soil organic carbon stock in coniferous subtropical and broadleaf temperate forests in G arhwal Himalaya.Carbon Balance and Management 4:6.
[20] Tulu Tolla (2011). Estimation of carbon stock in church forests: implications for managing church forest for carbon emission reduction. MSc. Thesis (unpublished), Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia.
[21] Ullah, M.R. and Amin. M. Al. (2012). Above- and below-ground carbon stock estimation in a natural forest of Bangladesh.Journal of Forest Science 58(8): 372–379.
[22] Yitebitu Moges, Zewdu Eshetuand Sisay Nune(2010). Ethiopian Forest Resources: Current status and future management options in view of access to carbon finances, Addis Ababa.
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  • APA Style

    Alefu Chinasho, Teshome Soromessa, Eyale Bayable. (2015). Carbon Stock in Woody Plants of Humbo Forest and its Variation along Altitudinal Gradients: The Case of Humbo District, Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia. International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy, 3(4), 97-103. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20150304.13

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    ACS Style

    Alefu Chinasho; Teshome Soromessa; Eyale Bayable. Carbon Stock in Woody Plants of Humbo Forest and its Variation along Altitudinal Gradients: The Case of Humbo District, Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Int. J. Environ. Prot. Policy 2015, 3(4), 97-103. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepp.20150304.13

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    AMA Style

    Alefu Chinasho, Teshome Soromessa, Eyale Bayable. Carbon Stock in Woody Plants of Humbo Forest and its Variation along Altitudinal Gradients: The Case of Humbo District, Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Int J Environ Prot Policy. 2015;3(4):97-103. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepp.20150304.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijepp.20150304.13,
      author = {Alefu Chinasho and Teshome Soromessa and Eyale Bayable},
      title = {Carbon Stock in Woody Plants of Humbo Forest and its Variation along Altitudinal Gradients: The Case of Humbo District, Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia},
      journal = {International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy},
      volume = {3},
      number = {4},
      pages = {97-103},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijepp.20150304.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20150304.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijepp.20150304.13},
      abstract = {Forests play a critical role in the natural global carbon cycle by capturing carbon from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. However, Ethiopia does not have carbon inventories and databank to monitor and enhance carbon sequestration potential of different forests. As result, this study was conducted in Humbo forest with the overall objective of estimating the total carbon stock in woody plants and its variation along altitudinal gradients, as well as its implication for climate change mitigation. The above and below ground biomass, dead litter biomass and soil carbon were measured and estimated by using allometric equations. Trees with DBH>2.5 cm were measured for their height and diameter at breast height, and the result was analyzed by SPSS software, version 20. The findings of the study showed that Syzigium guineese(L.) Skeels was the most dominant and Prunus africana (Hook. f.) Kal was the least dominant one. The average carbon stock of the study area was 30.77, 14.46, 12.55, and 168.2 ton/ha, in above ground biomass, below ground biomass, dead litter, and soil, respectively. The variation of carbon pools between altitudinal gradient was not significant. The total maximum and minimum carbon stock estimated was 361.63 and 58.49 ton/ha, respectively, with the average value of 225.98 ton/ha. The estimated money term of carbon dioxide sequestered in one hectare was $6087.429 USD in average. This implies that the forest managed for carbon trading (to get money) indirectly sequesters about 829.35 ton /ha, in average.},
     year = {2015}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Carbon Stock in Woody Plants of Humbo Forest and its Variation along Altitudinal Gradients: The Case of Humbo District, Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia
    AU  - Alefu Chinasho
    AU  - Teshome Soromessa
    AU  - Eyale Bayable
    Y1  - 2015/07/04
    PY  - 2015
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20150304.13
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijepp.20150304.13
    T2  - International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy
    JF  - International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy
    JO  - International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy
    SP  - 97
    EP  - 103
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-7536
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20150304.13
    AB  - Forests play a critical role in the natural global carbon cycle by capturing carbon from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. However, Ethiopia does not have carbon inventories and databank to monitor and enhance carbon sequestration potential of different forests. As result, this study was conducted in Humbo forest with the overall objective of estimating the total carbon stock in woody plants and its variation along altitudinal gradients, as well as its implication for climate change mitigation. The above and below ground biomass, dead litter biomass and soil carbon were measured and estimated by using allometric equations. Trees with DBH>2.5 cm were measured for their height and diameter at breast height, and the result was analyzed by SPSS software, version 20. The findings of the study showed that Syzigium guineese(L.) Skeels was the most dominant and Prunus africana (Hook. f.) Kal was the least dominant one. The average carbon stock of the study area was 30.77, 14.46, 12.55, and 168.2 ton/ha, in above ground biomass, below ground biomass, dead litter, and soil, respectively. The variation of carbon pools between altitudinal gradient was not significant. The total maximum and minimum carbon stock estimated was 361.63 and 58.49 ton/ha, respectively, with the average value of 225.98 ton/ha. The estimated money term of carbon dioxide sequestered in one hectare was $6087.429 USD in average. This implies that the forest managed for carbon trading (to get money) indirectly sequesters about 829.35 ton /ha, in average.
    VL  - 3
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • School of Biodiversity and Natural resources, Mada Walabu University, Bale Robe, Ethiopia

  • Center for Environmental Science, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

  • Center for Environmental Science, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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