Stand Diversity and Carbon Stock of a Tropical Forest in the Deng Deng National Park, Cameroon

Abstract

Tropical rainforests are crucial in maintaining about 70% of the world's plant and animal biodiversity and are also the highest terrestrial carbon reservoir. This study aimed to determine the tree species composition, structure and carbon stocks of the Deng Deng National Park which is a semi-deciduous tropical forest (plots 1 and 2 and the transition zone to the savannah (plot 3). Plots demarcation and enumeration followed standard protocols for permanent monitoring plots. The inventory of tree species ≥ 2 cm revealed a total of 5523 individuals of 64 species in 53 genera belonging to 26 families with plot 2 having the highest (2135 individuals/ha) and plot 3 the least (1291 individuals/ha). Tabernaemontana crassa was the most important tree species in the tropical forest and Lecythis idatimon in the savannah. Basal area was highest in the tropical forest and least in the savannah. The diameter distribution of trees in all forest types displayed a reverse J-pattern. Aboveground biomass was highest in the tropical forest (530.2 ± 66.4 t•C/ha) and least in the savannah (184.3 ± 20.1 t•C/ha). The carbon stock of the above ground biomass was twice as much as that of the below ground biomass, soil organic matter and litter. The total carbon stock estimated in all pools was 278.75 t•C/ha. The study site was poor in plant diversity, biomass and carbon stock, indicating a disturbed site with the absence of large trees and undergoing natural regeneration. This underlines an urgent need for efficient restoration management practices.

The Dynamics and Potential of Carbon Stocks as an Indicator of Sustainable Development for Forest Bioeconomy in Ghana

“…The higher Cstocks found in the moist evergreen and the wet evergreen forest belts relative to the other forest-vegetation belts could be attributed to the dense vegetation prevalence in these evergreen forest zones. Studies reported larger Cstocks in dense vegetations due to the higher pools of carbon that were obtained through increased photosynthetic and organic matter mineralization processes, especially in the tropical regions [92][93][94].…”

“…Further, in Cambodia, similar species in the families of Caesalpinaceae, Ebenaceae, and Rosaceae such as Afzelia, Diospyros bejaudi Lecomte, Diospyros crumenata, Diospyros nitida, Diospyros helferi, and Parinarium annamensis were observed to be key determinants of the forest bioeconomy due to their high carbon stocks [100]. The presence of evergreen forests (i.e., the moist evergreen and the wet evergreen), which have more tree species than the other forest-vegetation zones enhanced Cstocks in these forest belts as compared to the savannah, as well as the swamp forest and mangrove belts [94].…”

“…Forests 2024, 15, x FOR PEER REVIEW 15 of 26 and Parinarium annamensis were observed to be key determinants of the forest bioeconomy due to their high carbon stocks [100]. The presence of evergreen forests (i.e., the moist evergreen and the wet evergreen), which have more tree species than the other forestvegetation zones enhanced Cstocks in these forest belts as compared to the savannah, as well as the swamp forest and mangrove belts [94]. A study in Zambia by Pelletier et al [101] affirmed that the biomass gains and carbon sink were concentrated in several dominant species, including the Fabaceae, which is a subfamily of Caesalpinioideae, although some dominant species showed threats of overexploitation.…”