The Dynamics and Potential of Carbon Stocks as an Indicator of Sustainable Development for Forest Bioeconomy in Ghana
Isaac Nyarko,
Chukwudi Nwaogu,
Bridget E. Diagi
et al.
Abstract:Sustainable forest bioeconomy (SFB), as a multidimensional approach for establishing mutual benefits between forest ecosystems, the environment, the economy, and humans, is a nature-based solution for a promising future. The study aims to evaluate the potential of carbon stocks (Cstocks) and variability for SFB. It is hypothesized that the decrease in Cstocks is related to an increase in population and agriculture, which caused a decrease in forest area and growing stock and consequently affected SFB. Primary … Show more
“…In the current study, the estimated reference value of AGC stocks for primary forest is higher than the values observed by Sierra et al (2007)(247.8 ±40.5 MgC ha −1 ) in Colombia, by Gineste et al (2008)(from 154.2 to 171.1 MgC ha −1 ) in Ghana, by Lewis et al (2009) (202 MgC ha −1 ) from 79 plots in tropical African forest and by Adu-Bredu et al (2010) in Ghana (202.07 MgC ha −1 ) but perfectly in line with values referred to the specific forest-vegetation zone in Ghana by Nyarko et al (2024)(254 - 278 MgC ha −1 ) and Houssoukpèvi et al (2022) in Benin (279 ±74 MgC ha −1 ). We estimate that the AGC in primary forest is 61.7% of the total C-stock, followed by SOC (20.4%), BGC (16.1%) and litter carbon (1.7%).…”
Tropical deforestation in the African continent plays a key role in the global carbon cycle and bears significant implications in terms of climate change and sustainable development. Especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, where more than two-thirds of the population rely on forest and woodland resources for their livelihoods, deforestation and land use changes for crop production lead to a substantial loss of ecosystem-level carbon stock. Unfortunately, the impacts of deforestation and land use change can be more critical than in any other region, but these are poorly quantified. We analyse changes in the main carbon pools (above- and below-ground, soil and litter, respectively) after deforestation and land use/land cover change, for the Jomoro District (Ghana), by assessing the initial reference level of carbon stock for primary forest and the subsequent stock changes and dynamics as a consequence of conversion to the secondary forest and to six different tree plantations (rubber, coconut, cocoa, oil palm, and mixed plantations). Results indicate overall a statistically significant carbon loss across all the land uses/covers and for all the carbon pools compared to the primary forest with the total carbon stock loss ranging between 85% and 35% but with no statistically significant differences observed in the comparison between primary forest and mixed plantations and secondary forest. Results also suggest that above-ground carbon and soil organic carbon are the primary pools contributing to the total carbon stocks but with opposite trends of carbon loss and accumulation. Strategies for sustainable development, policies to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, carbon stock enhancement (REDD+), and planning for sustainable land use management should carefully consider the type of conversion and carbon stock dynamics behind land use change for a win-win strategy while preserving carbon stocks potential in tropical ecosystems.
“…In the current study, the estimated reference value of AGC stocks for primary forest is higher than the values observed by Sierra et al (2007)(247.8 ±40.5 MgC ha −1 ) in Colombia, by Gineste et al (2008)(from 154.2 to 171.1 MgC ha −1 ) in Ghana, by Lewis et al (2009) (202 MgC ha −1 ) from 79 plots in tropical African forest and by Adu-Bredu et al (2010) in Ghana (202.07 MgC ha −1 ) but perfectly in line with values referred to the specific forest-vegetation zone in Ghana by Nyarko et al (2024)(254 - 278 MgC ha −1 ) and Houssoukpèvi et al (2022) in Benin (279 ±74 MgC ha −1 ). We estimate that the AGC in primary forest is 61.7% of the total C-stock, followed by SOC (20.4%), BGC (16.1%) and litter carbon (1.7%).…”
Tropical deforestation in the African continent plays a key role in the global carbon cycle and bears significant implications in terms of climate change and sustainable development. Especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, where more than two-thirds of the population rely on forest and woodland resources for their livelihoods, deforestation and land use changes for crop production lead to a substantial loss of ecosystem-level carbon stock. Unfortunately, the impacts of deforestation and land use change can be more critical than in any other region, but these are poorly quantified. We analyse changes in the main carbon pools (above- and below-ground, soil and litter, respectively) after deforestation and land use/land cover change, for the Jomoro District (Ghana), by assessing the initial reference level of carbon stock for primary forest and the subsequent stock changes and dynamics as a consequence of conversion to the secondary forest and to six different tree plantations (rubber, coconut, cocoa, oil palm, and mixed plantations). Results indicate overall a statistically significant carbon loss across all the land uses/covers and for all the carbon pools compared to the primary forest with the total carbon stock loss ranging between 85% and 35% but with no statistically significant differences observed in the comparison between primary forest and mixed plantations and secondary forest. Results also suggest that above-ground carbon and soil organic carbon are the primary pools contributing to the total carbon stocks but with opposite trends of carbon loss and accumulation. Strategies for sustainable development, policies to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, carbon stock enhancement (REDD+), and planning for sustainable land use management should carefully consider the type of conversion and carbon stock dynamics behind land use change for a win-win strategy while preserving carbon stocks potential in tropical ecosystems.
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