An assessment of tree biodiversity and carbon stocks in mangrove forests, Langsa City, Aceh, Indonesia

Abstract

Mangrove forests are a unique coastal ecosystem with trees adapted to a constantly fluctuating and sometimes extreme physical environment. Mangrove forests provide important ecosystem services that benefit local people and all of us in terms of climate regulation through the storage of greenhouse gasses in biomass. This research reports carbon stock, wood volume, tree density, and biodiversity indices for two mangrove forest areas in Langsa City Regency, Aceh Province, Indonesia. The two sites represent and inland area and an ocean-exposed area within a large mangrove forest ecosystem complex. The results of the analysis show that these two tracts are quite similar in terms of carbon stock and biodiversity even though they occupy different locations within the larger tract of mangrove habitat. The study confirms these are healthy forest areas with relatively high carbon stocks.

Forest integrated assessment, biodiversity and carbon stocks analysis in Konsu Mandiri Sejahtera (KMS) social forestry, Lamandau, Indonesia

“…The allometric model uses the tree DBH to estimate total tree live biomass (kg). Biomass using a factor of 0.47, the IPCC default value [5,6]. Carbon stock for each size class of tree in the nested plot are summed (tC).…”

“…Total carbon per plot and then scaled to report plot-level tC/ha. The average for all plots is computed by the site area to estimate total carbon stock (tC) [4,5]…”

“…FIA is the tools to calculate the benefits of forests for the community which is seen from several aspects, namely structure impact, focal habitat, focus species, direct and indirect forest benefits including cultural benefits. This Tools are the improvement from WWF tools [5,8]. Table 2 is the information of wild life in KMS forest.…”

“…Table 7 is the data about the several site characteristics in carbon stocks data (average tC/ha all plots [4,5]. The sample error and the range accuracy based on the number plots at 95% confidence are also noted.…”

“…KMS forest focus habitats include the uniqueness of caves, rock piles, high cliffs, waterfalls, springs and mineral lakes for wildlife places. Carbon deposits in the region are also high with total carbon stock 122,600.35ton C/ha which must be maintained and improved from all the challenges that exist in terms of illegal land clearing by community members [5,9]. Total volume per ha in this area is 248,43 m 3 includes the volume of trees per ha which is classified as poorly moderate where the area is heavily damaged and this is a concern for carrying out preventive measures and improving management.…”