Assessment of the aboveground carbon stock potential in Kaweri central forest reserve.

Abstract

In order to understand the aboveground carbon stock potential of eucalyptus and indigenous tree species, this study on assessment or the aboveground carbon stock potential in eucalyptus and indigenous species carried out in central forest reserve which had two divided parts: one being natural with various indigenous species while another being restored with five years’ eucalyptus plantation. The main objective was this study was to assess the aboveground carbon stock potential of eucalyptus and the selected indigenous tree species. The specific objectives included; assessing the AGC of both eucalyptus and the selected indigenous tree species in Kaweri CFR, assessing the AGC of both eucalyptus and the selected indigenous tree species in Kaweri CFR, and assessing the potential economic value of AGC sequestration in Kaweri CFR. Data was collected within ten established plots of 10 by 10 meters where five samples were taken per plot in the restored part of the reserve (with eucalyptus) irrespective of the size totaling to 25 samples. Also the same procedure was used in the natural part of the reserve with respect to the selected five indigenous species (Fieus natalesis, Albizzia zygia, Misopsis emini, Markamia lutea, and Melicia exelsa), this is because these species dominate the natural part of the reserve. The data was summarized into tables and analysed using excel and STATA. The results were illustrated using graphs and pie charts for easy interpretation and discussion to draw conclusions. The results indicated that there is a significant difference in carbon stock potential between eucalyptus and the selected indigenous species. The results showed that on average, the five years’ eucalyptus had 25.1tons/Ha while as the selected indigenous tree species than in eucalyptus plantation. However, the difference in the ages of the two difference parts of the reserve was ignored. In addition, the economic value of carbon sequested from the natural forest was higher than that from the eucalyptus thus recommended that tropical forests should not be substituted for eucalyptus as a form of improving the aboveground carbon stocks according to the results. Keywords: Aboveground carbon stocks, Forest, Biomass