Open AccessCarbon stocks of above- and belowground tree biomass in Kibate Forest around Wonchi Crater Lake, Central Highland of Ethiopia
Author(s) -
Misganaw Meragiaw,
Zerihun Woldu,
Vegard Martinsen,
Bal Ram Singh
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0254231
Subject(s) - carbon stock , biomass (ecology) , transect , forestry , environmental science , biodiversity , tree allometry , agroforestry , forest ecology , forest management , ecosystem , ecology , climate change , geography , biology , biomass partitioning
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.