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

Alefu Chinasho; Teshome Soromessa; Eyale Bayable

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijepp.20150304.13

| Peer-Reviewed

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

Alefu Chinasho, Teshome Soromessa, Eyale Bayable

Published in International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy (Volume 3, Issue 4)

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

Views: Downloads:

Download PDF

Share This Article

Twitter
Linked In
Facebook

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.

Cite This Article

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

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

Copy | Download

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

Copy | Download

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

Copy | Download

@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}
}

Copy | Download

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 -

Copy | Download

Author Information

Alefu Chinasho

School of Biodiversity and Natural resources, Mada Walabu University, Bale Robe, Ethiopia
Teshome Soromessa

Center for Environmental Science, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Eyale Bayable

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

Download PDF

Sections

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

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

Copy | Download

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

Copy | Download

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

Copy | Download

@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}
}

Copy | Download