Carbon stocks of above- and belowground tree biomass in Kibate Forest around Wonchi Crater Lake, Central Highland of Ethiopia

PLoS One. 2021 Jul 9;16(7):e0254231. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254231. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Forests play an important role in the global carbon (C) balance, but their biomass has decreased globally mainly because of deforestation and a reduction in forest cover. However, little is known about the C stock of tree biomass related to environmental factors in the remnant forest patches. Thus, the present study aimed at assessing the status of C stocks of tree biomass using an allometric equation in Kibate Forest (Ethiopia). Sixty-six plots (30×30 m) were laid out at 100 m interval distance along the altitudinal gradients in five transects. The results revealed that the highest C stocks (67.4%) per species were contributed by Juniperus procera, Ilex mitis var. mitis, Nuxia congesta, and Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata. The mean total tree biomass was 91.9 ± 10.01 Mg ha-1. The mean total C stock was 45.9 ± 5.17 Mg ha-1, out of which 38.3 ± 4.31 and 7.7 ± 0.91 Mg ha-1 were stored in above- and belowground C pools, respectively. Anthropogenic factors were negatively associated with the C-stock distribution in the study area. Thus, the status of the C stock of tree biomass related to anthropogenic factors indicates that sustainable forest management practice is needed in the study area to conserve biodiversity and mitigate climate change.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biomass*
  • Carbon
  • Carbon Sequestration
  • Ethiopia
  • Lakes*
  • Trees*

Substances

  • Carbon

Grants and funding

The field study was financially supported by the “Regional Capacity Building for Sustainable Natural Resource Management and Agricultural Improvement under Climate Change (CAPSNAC) Project”, a subproject of the Norwegian Program for Capacity Building in Higher Education and Research for Development (NORHED). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.