Allometric equations for predicting above-ground biomass of selected woody species to estimate carbon in East African rangelands

Feyisa, Kenea; Beyene, Sheleme; Megersa, Bekele; Said, Mohammed Yahya; Leeuw, Jan De; Angassa, Ayana

doi:10.1007/s10457-016-9997-9

Cited by 26 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…In the latter, the main constraints are lack of standardized methods and heterogeneity of smallholder farms that limit the application of wellestablished forest-based methods (Kuyah et al 2013). Allometric equations developed for tree species and perennial crops found in agroforestry systems has allowed estimation of biomass and carbon stored in various agroforestry systems, such as scattered trees on farmland (Gebrewahid et al 2018), rangelands (Feyisa et al 2018), miombo woodlands (Kuyah et al 2014) and coffee agroforestry systems (Negash et al 2013;Tumwebaze et al 2013). However, there are no allometric equations developed specifically for estimating biomass of trees in agricultural landscapes in Rwanda, making it difficult to determine the contribution of Rwandan agroforestry systems to climate change mitigation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Potential of Alnus acuminata based agroforestry for carbon sequestration and other ecosystem services in Rwanda

et al. 2021

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Alnus acuminata Kunth. (alnus) is widely used in agroforestry systems across the globe and is believed to provide multiple ecosystem services; however, evidence is lacking in agroforestry literature to support the perceived benefits, particularly in Rwanda. To understand carbon sequestration potential and other benefits of alnus, a household survey, tree inventory and destructive sampling were conducted in north-western Rwanda. Over 75% of the respondents had alnus trees in their farms. The trees provide stakes for climbing beans, firewood and timber. They also improve soil fertility and control soil erosion. Farmers had between 130 and 161 alnus trees per hectare with an average height of 7.7 ± 0.59 m and diameter at breast height of 16.3 ± 1.39 cm. The largest biomass proportion was found in stems (70.5%) while branches and leaves stock about 16.5 and 13% of the total biomass, respectively. At farm level, aboveground biomass of alnus trees was estimated to be 27.2 ± 0.7 Mg ha−1 representing 13.6 Mg of carbon (C) per hectare. Biomass carbon increased with tree size, from 7.1 ± 0.2 Mg C ha−1 in 3 years old trees to 34.4 ± 2.2 Mg C ha−1 in 10 years old trees. The converse was observed with elevation; biomass carbon decreased with increasing elevation from 21.4 ± 1.29 Mg C ha−1 at low (2011–2110 m) to 9.6 ± 0.75 Mg C ha−1 in the high elevation (> 2510 m). In conclusion, alnus agroforestry significantly contributes to carbon sequestration, although the magnitude of these benefits varies with tree age and elevation. Planting alnus trees on farms can meet local needs for stakes for climbing beans, wood and soil fertility improvement, as well as the global need for regulation of climate change.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Potential of Alnus acuminata based agroforestry for carbon sequestration and other ecosystem services in Rwanda

et al. 2021

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“…Local models may have limited use beyond the site for which they are developed. However, they generally provide less bias than general models [20] because tree growth characteristics are affected by local geographical conditions such as climate, soil properties, altitude, and land-use history [21]. As it is indicated by Mokria et al [2], lack of local AGB estimation models is the main reason for persistent inaccuracy in biomass estimation, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Allometric Models for Predicting Aboveground Biomass of Trees in the Dry Afromontane Forests of Northern Ethiopia

Tetemke

Birhane

Rannestad

et al. 2019

Forests

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Dry Afromontane forests form the largest part of the existing natural vegetation in Ethiopia. Nevertheless, models for quantifying aboveground tree biomass (AGB) of these forests are rare. The objective of this study was, therefore, to develop local multispecies and species-specific AGB models for dry Afromontane forests in northern Ethiopia and to test the accuracy of some potentially relevant, previously developed AGB models. A total of 86 sample trees consisting of ten dominant tree species were harvested to develop the models. A set of models relating AGB to diameter at breast height (DBH) or at stump height (DSH), height (H), crown area (CA), and wood basic density (ρ) were fitted. Model evaluation and selection was based on statistical significance of model parameter estimates, relative mean root-square-error (rMRSE), relative bias (rBias), and Akaike Information Criterion (AIC). A leave-one-out cross-validation procedure was used to compute rMRSE and rBias. The best multispecies model, which includes DSH, CA, and ρ as predictors, explained more than 95% of the variability in AGB. The best species-specific models for the two dominant species, with DBH or DSH as the sole predictor, also explained more than 96% of the variability in AGB. Higher biases from the previously published models compared to the best models from this study show the need to develop local models for more accurate biomass estimation. The developed models allow to quantify AGB with a high level of accuracy for our site, and they can potentially be applied in dry Afromontane forests elsewhere in Ethiopia if species composition and growing conditions are carefully evaluated before an application is done.

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“…These studies are restricted to local forest areas and/or watersheds and provide no information on the forest conditions (e.g., volume or biomass) and/or its change over time (increment rates). In addition, some studies have estimated aboveground biomass and carbon stocks of specific savannah woodland, forest and agroforestry areas [21,22]. However, up until this study, no information is available about the stocking volume, volume increment rates, carbon stocks and NPP for the forest areas in northwestern Ethiopia.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Volume and Carbon Estimates for the Forest Area of the Amhara Region in Northwestern Ethiopia

Sisay

Thurnher

Belay

et al. 2017

Forests

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Sustainable forest management requires a continuous assessment of the forest conditions covering the species distribution, standing tree volume as well as volume increment rates. Forest inventories are designed to record this information. They, in combination with ecosystem models, are the conceptual framework for sustainable forest management. While such management systems are common in many countries, no forest inventory system and/or modeling tools for deriving forest growth information are available in Ethiopia. This study assesses, for the first time, timber volume, carbon, and Net Primary Production (NPP) of forested areas in the Amhara region of northwestern Ethiopia by combining (i) terrestrial inventory data, and (ii) land cover classification information. The inventory data were collected from five sites across the Amhara region (Ambober, Gelawdiwos, Katassi, Mahiberesilasse and Taragedam) covering three forest types: (i) forests, (ii) shrublands (exclosures) and (ii) woodlands. The data were recorded on 198 sample plots and cover diameter at breast height, tree height, and increment information. In order to extrapolate the local terrestrial inventory data to the whole Amhara region, a digital land cover map from the Amhara's Bureau of Agriculture was simplified into (i) forest, (ii) shrubland, and (iii) woodland. In addition, the forest area is further stratified in five elevation classes. Our results suggest that the forest area in the Amhara region covers 2% of the total land area with an average volume stock of 65.7 m 3 •ha −1 ; the shrubland covers 27% and a volume stock of 3.7 m 3 •ha −1 ; and the woodland covers 6% and an average volume stock of 27.6 m 3 •ha −1. The corresponding annual volume increment rates are 3.0 m 3 •ha −1 , for the forest area; 1.0 m 3 •ha −1 , for the shrubland; and 1.2 m 3 •ha −1 , for the woodland. The estimated current total volume stock in the Amhara region is 59 million m 3 .

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Allometric equations for predicting above-ground biomass of selected woody species to estimate carbon in East African rangelands

Cited by 26 publications

References 47 publications

Potential of Alnus acuminata based agroforestry for carbon sequestration and other ecosystem services in Rwanda

Potential of Alnus acuminata based agroforestry for carbon sequestration and other ecosystem services in Rwanda

Allometric Models for Predicting Aboveground Biomass of Trees in the Dry Afromontane Forests of Northern Ethiopia

Volume and Carbon Estimates for the Forest Area of the Amhara Region in Northwestern Ethiopia

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