Biomass and soil carbon stocks in different forest types, Northwestern Ethiopia

ABSTRACT

Attempts to mitigate global climate change have brought forestry into focus. Forests absorb carbondioxide from the atmosphere, alleviate global warming and contribute for rural livelihoods. To realize these benefits, there is a need to conserve the existing forests and establish new forests by using different restoration techniques. Information is scarce in Ethiopia on the carbon stock efficiency of the different forest types. Therefore, this study focused on comparing biomass and soil carbon stock potential of a natural forest, exclosure and Eucalyptus plantation. Primary and secondary data were collected and analysed using allometric equations. The results of this study stated that the total mean carbon stock for exclosure was 131.6 ± 45.5 t ha⁻¹, for plantation 160.1 ± 35.8 t ha⁻¹ and for natural forest 195.3 ± 58.3 t ha⁻¹. The carbon stocks in each pool exhibited distinct patterns between the forest types. The above ground, below ground and soil organic carbon stock, increased in the natural forests and plantation, while the litter carbon stock showed decreasing towards the exclosure. Generally, the total natural forests store high amount of carbon and can play an important role in climate change mitigation. The carbon pool variation between different forest types was significant at (P < .05); however, there was no significance difference between forest types by aboveground and belowground biomass. From the main findings of this study, it is possible to conclude that climate change mitigation measures should consider expanding exclosure with the same priority as conserving natural forest and increasing plantation forests.

KEYWORDS:

• Natural forest
• plantation forest
• exclosure
• carbon stock and sequestration
• climate change
• mitigation

Acknowledgements

This study would never be completed without the contribution of many people to whom we would like to express our gratitude. The administrative kebele’s development agents, district agricultural officials, local youths, in each of the sampling sites were indispensable for the successful completion of the field work. We would like also to acknowledge people who contributed their knowledge and time in data collection and other reliable supports. GK has made substantial contributions in conception design, acquisition of data, interpretation of results and leading the overall activities of the research. He has given also the final approval of the version to be published. All authors read and approved the final manuscript and shape the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Data availability statement

The dataset supporting the conclusions of this article is included within the article.

Additional information

Funding

Funded by Amhara Region Agricultural Research Institute and Bahir Dar University.