Himalayan Forests: A Net Source of Carbon for the Atmosphere

Singh, J. S.; Tiwari, Avinash; Saxena, Amita

doi:10.1017/s0376892900015174

Cited by 42 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…This result may be attributed to the lack of disturbance in these stands. However, these values of aboveground C density are comparable to the values recorded by Singh et al (1985) in nearby forests of Kumaun Central Himalaya. Most of the forest types studied in this study were mature, fully stocked, old-growth forests and had C stocks on the higher end of the values recorded for the forests of India and elsewhere in the world, which infers that these forests have higher amount of C stored in them.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 84%

Variation in carbon stocks on different slope aspects in seven major forest types of temperate region of Garhwal Himalaya, India

et al. 2011

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The present study was undertaken in seven major forest types of temperate zone (1500 m a.s.l. to 3100 m a.s.l.) of Garhwal Himalaya to understand the effect of slope aspects on carbon (C) density and make recommendations for forest management based on priorities for C conservation/sequestration. We assessed soil organic carbon (SOC) density, tree density, biomass and soil organic carbon (SOC) on four aspects, viz. north/east (NE), north/west (NW), south-east (SE) and south-west (SW), in forest stands dominated by Abies pindrow, Cedrus deodara, Pinus roxburghii, Cupressus torulosa, Quercus floribunda, Quercus semecarpifolia and Quercus leucotrichophora. TCD ranged between 77.3 CMg ha⁻¹ on SE aspect (Quercus leucotrichophora forest) and 291.6 CMg ha⁻¹ on NE aspect (moist Cedrus deodara forest). SOC varied between 40.3 CMg ha⁻¹ on SW aspect (Himalayan Pinus roxburghii forest) and 177.5 CMg ha⁻¹ on NE aspect (moist Cedrus deodara forest). Total C density (SOC+TCD) ranged between 118.1 CMg ha⁻¹ on SW aspect (Himalayan Pinus roxburghii forest) and 469.1 CMg ha⁻¹ on NE aspect (moist Cedrus deodara forest). SOC and TCD were significantly higher on northern aspects as compared with southern aspects. It is recommended that for C sequestration, the plantation silviculture be exercised on northern aspects, and for C conservation purposes, mature forest stands growing on northern aspects be given priority.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 84%

Variation in carbon stocks on different slope aspects in seven major forest types of temperate region of Garhwal Himalaya, India

et al. 2011

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“…Carbon storage in the Uttarakhand Himalayan forests (the present study sites) ranges from an average of about 175 t C ha -1 for pine forests to approx 300 t C ha -1 for oak and sal dominated forests (Singh et al 1985). Our findings clearly show how important shrubs are in these areas because they greatly contribute to carbon storage ( Table 4).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 52%

Estimation of above-ground biomass and carbon stock of an invasive woody shrub in the subtropical deciduous forests of Doon Valley, western Himalaya, India

Mandal¹,

Joshi²

2015

J. For. Res.

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This study describes the different parameters used to derive the allometric equation for calculating the biomass of an invasive woody shrub Lantana camara L. from the subtropical conditions of western Himalaya. It identifies the most accurate and convenient method for biomass calculation by comparing destructive with nondestructive methodology. Different parameters were measured on a wide range of Lantana from different community levels for the non-destructive calculation of total aboveground biomass. Different explanatory variables were identified and measured such as basal diameter either as a single independent variable or in combination with plant height. The other suitable combinations of available independent variables include crown length, crown width, crown area, crown volume and coverage of the plant. Amongst the wide range of allometric equations used with different variables, the equation with D 2 H as a variable was found to be the most suitable estimator of biomass calculation for Lantana. Sahastradhara, being the most disturbed area due to its high tourist activity round the year, showed maximum coverage (58.57 % ha -1 ), highest biomass (13,559.60 kg ha -1 ) and carbon density (6,373.01 kg ha -1 ) of Lantana. The degree of Lantana's invasiveness in subtropical conditions was also calculated on the basis of importance value index (IVI). The maximum IVI (22.77) and mean coverage (26.8 % ha -1 ) was obtained from the areas near Jolly Grant airport, indicating that physically disturbed areas are more suitable for the growth of Lantana, which may significantly increase shrub biomass. The importance of incorporating allometric equations in calculation of shrub biomass, and its role in atmospheric carbon assimilation has thus been highlighted through the findings of this study.

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“…Singh et al (1985) in their study on Central Himalayan forests reported that the carbon stocked in poor forests is 35.0 to 75.2 t C ha −1 ; in medium forests is 75.2 to 131.5 t C ha −1 and in good forests is 131.5 to 225.6 t C ha −1 . These estimates are higher than the present study, firstly because they took a very small area for sampling as compared to ours, and secondly, the Himalayan forests are one of the most fertile and preserved forests in the country with high tree density.…”

Section: Carbon Stockmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…In India, the people of the eastern and northeastern region practice shifting cultivation on hill slopes, and 85% of the total cultivation in the northeast region is by shifting cultivation (Singh and Singh, 1992). We estimated that between 1984 and 1994 about 17.22 Mt wood biomass and 10.69 Mt C was removed at the rate of 1.72 Mt yr −1 and 1.07 Mt C yr −1 respectively from the northeastern states.…”

Section: Shifting Cultivationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temporal Assessment of Growing Stock, Biomass and Carbon Stock of Indian Forests

Manhas¹,

Negi²,

Kumar

et al. 2006

Climatic Change

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The dynamics of terrestrial ecosystems depends on interactions between carbon, nutrient and hydrological cycles. Terrestrial ecosystems retain carbon in live biomass (aboveground and belowground), decomposing organic matter, and soil. Carbon is exchanged naturally between these systems and the atmosphere through photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, and combustion. Human activities change carbon stock in these pools and exchanges between them and the atmosphere through land-use, land-use change, and forestry.In the present study we estimated the wood (stem) biomass, growing stock (GS) and carbon stock of Indian forests for 1984 and 1994. The forest area, wood biomass, GS, and carbon stock were 63.86 Mha, 4327.99 Mm 3 , 2398.19 Mt and 1085.06 Mt respectively in 1984 and with the reduction in forest area, 63.34 Mha, in 1994, wood biomass (2395.12 Mt) and carbon stock (1083.69 Mt) also reduced subsequently. The Conifers, of temperate region, stocked maximum carbon in their woods, 28.88 to 65.21 t C ha −1 , followed by Mangrove forests, 28.24 t C ha −1 , Dipterocarp forests, 28.00 t C ha −1 , and Shorea robusta forests, 24.07 t C ha −1 . Boswellia serrata, with 0.22 Mha forest area, stocked only 3.91 t C ha −1 . To have an idea of rate of carbon loss the negative changes (loss of forest area) in forest area occurred during 1984-1994 (10yrs) and 1991-1994 (4yrs) were also estimated. In India, land-use changes and fuelwood requirements are the main cause of negative change. Total 24.75 Mt C was lost during 1984-1994 and 21.35 Mt C during 1991 at a rate of 2.48 Mt C yr −1 and 5.35 Mt C yr −1 respectively. While in other parts of India negative change is due to multiple reasons like fuelwood, extraction of non-wood forest products (NWFPs), illicit felling etc., but in the northeastern region of the country shifting cultivation is the only reason for deforestation. Decrease in forest area due to shifting cultivation accounts for 23.0% of the total deforestation in India, with an annual loss of 0.93 Mt C yr −1 .

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Himalayan Forests: A Net Source of Carbon for the Atmosphere

Cited by 42 publications

References 15 publications

Variation in carbon stocks on different slope aspects in seven major forest types of temperate region of Garhwal Himalaya, India

Variation in carbon stocks on different slope aspects in seven major forest types of temperate region of Garhwal Himalaya, India

Estimation of above-ground biomass and carbon stock of an invasive woody shrub in the subtropical deciduous forests of Doon Valley, western Himalaya, India

Temporal Assessment of Growing Stock, Biomass and Carbon Stock of Indian Forests

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