Tree biomass and soil carbon stocks in indigenous forests in comparison to plantations of exotic species in the Taita Hills of Kenya

Omoro, Loice; Starr, Michael; Pellikka, Petri

doi:10.14214/sf.935

Cited by 41 publications

(34 citation statements)

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“…There are few studies which have been conducted to examine the carbon storage potential of three main forest fragments; Mbololo, Ngangao and Chawia in Taita Hills (Omoro et al, 2013). The calculation of carbon stock held by individual trees has been done using wood density values for the indigenous species obtained from Reyes et al (1992) and the global wood density database developed by Zanne et al (2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Inclusion of height and wood density in above-ground biomass (AGB) estimation models has been found to improve on the accuracy in quantifying the carbon stock (Chave et al, 2005(Chave et al, , 2014. However, to-date, studies conducted in fragmented forests of Taita Hills to quantify carbon sequestration potential of the forest fragments have used models with diameter at breast height (DBH) and wood density to estimate the amount of carbon held by these forests (Omoro et al, 2013) leaving out tree height; an important variable in biomass estimation. Improving on the accuracy in quantifying the carbon stock by using models for estimating AGB that integrate diameter at breast height (DBH), wood density and height to calculate the carbon stored by the Mbololo, Ngangao and Chawia forest fragments is therefore a prerequisite in tackling climate change in the context of REDD+ activities (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and increasing the carbon stock in forests), where governments require more accurate assessment of the forest carbon stocks.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of Forest Disturbance on Vegetation Structure and Above-Ground Carbon in Three Isolated Forest Patches of Taita Hills

Wekesa¹,

Leley²,

Maranga³

et al. 2016

OJF

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The structure and species composition of undisturbed natural forests serve as benchmarks for understanding forest carbon storage potential for reduced carbon emissions. Even though Kenya is seeking to stabilize forest cover, reverse degradation and increase forest cover through mechanisms such as REDD+, there is relatively little information on inherent forest carbon storage potential or its response to disturbance. Comparative studies were undertaken in three remnant fragments of indigenous forests in Taita Hills, Kenya to characterize the structure and forest carbon storage potential of undisturbed, moderately and heavily disturbed sites within these forests. The sensitivity of forest carbon storage estimates to different methods of tree biomass estimation were also examined, including estimates which used DBH, tree height and wood density from extracted tree cores. Disturbance altered the forest structure, reduced species diversity and decreased the capacity of the forests to sequester carbon. The forests' capacity to sequester carbon reduced by between 9.2% and 70.7% depending on the site (forest fragment) and level of disturbance. Models with DBH and wood density gave higher quantities of carbon of between 0.9% and 44.4% for sites exhibiting different levels of disturbance. The present results suggest that disturbance had strong influence on forest structure, species diversity and carbon stocks and therefore maintaining the forests' ecological integrity over the long-term may prove difficult if the frequency and intensity of disturbance increases. Moreover, development and implementation of effective mitigation strategies to reduce carbon emissions will require the use of local biomass models since they are accurate.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Forest Disturbance on Vegetation Structure and Above-Ground Carbon in Three Isolated Forest Patches of Taita Hills

Wekesa¹,

Leley²,

Maranga³

et al. 2016

OJF

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“…El número de árboles, el área basal y la biomasa aérea, presentaron valores similares a los registrados en otros bosques tropicales de montaña donde se reportan rangos de 476-879 árboles por hectárea; 35.4-46.5m 2 /ha de área basal y 94-409Mg/ha de biomasa aérea (Cumsee et al, 2010;Girardin et al, 2010;Moser et al, 2011;Álvarez, García, Krasilnikov, & García, 2013). No obstante, los resultados obtenidos en este estudio, son más próximos a los registrados en bosques tropicales de tierras bajas en Borneo (457.10Mg/ha; Slik et al, 2010), Uganda (603.90Mg/ha; Lewis et al, 2013), y Kenia (607Mg/ha; Omoro, Starr, & Pellikka, 2013); y casi dos veces superior al promedio reportado para la Amazonía (288.60Mg/ha; Malhi et al, 2006) y al promedio pantropical recientemente reportado por Spracklen & Righelato (2013) de 257.10Mg/ha.…”

Section: Fig 1 (A)unclassified

Contribución de los bosques tropicales de montaña en el almacenamiento de carbono en Colombia

Yepes¹,

Herrera²,

Phillips³

et al. 2015

RBT

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Contribution of tropical upland forests to carbon storage in Colombia.The tropical montane forests in the Colombian Andean region are located above 1 500m, and have been heavily deforested. Despite the general presumption that productivity and hence carbon stocks in these ecosystems are low, studies in this regard are scarce. This study aimed to i) to estimate Above Ground Biomass (AGB) in forests located in the South of the Colombian Andean region, ii) to identify the carbon storage potential of tropical montane forests dominated by the black oak Colombobalanus excelsa and to identify the relationship between AGB and altitude, and iii) to analyze the role of tropical mountain forests in conservation mechanisms such as Payment for Environmental Services (PES) and Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+). Twenty six 0.25ha plots were randomly distributed in the forests and all trees with D≥10cm were measured. The results provided important elements for understanding the role of tropical montane forests as carbon sinks. The information produced can be used in subnational initiatives, which seek to mitigate or reduce the effects of deforestation through management or conservation of these ecosystems, like REDD+ or PES. The AGB and carbon stocks results obtained were similar to those reported for lowland tropical forests. These could be explained by the dominance and abundance of C. excelsa, which accounted for over 81% of AGB/carbon. The error associated with the estimates of AGB/carbon was 10.58%. We found a negative and significant relationship between AGB and altitude, but the higher AGB values were in middle altitudes (≈1 700-1 800m), where the environmental conditions could be favorable to their growth. The carbon storage potential of these forests was higher. However, if the historical rate of the deforestation in the study area continues, the gross emissions of CO 2 e to the atmosphere could turn these forests in to an important emissions source. Nowadays, it is clear that tropical montane forests are vulnerable to deforestation, especially black Oak forests due to their commercial value. Given their high carbon storage potential, the presence of endemic species and the strategic functions of these ecosystems, we recommend that they should be considered relevant during REDD+, PES or any other conservation assessment. Rev. Biol. Trop. El monitoreo del ciclo del carbono en los bosques tropicales continúa siendo un tema de interés para la comunidad científica. Por un lado, se busca entender el papel de éstos en el ciclo global de este elemento y los posibles impactos causados por el cambio climático; y por otro lado, los países en desarrollo requieren implementar sistemas nacionales de monitoreo,

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“…However the amount of biomass and carbon on site is largely determined by human activities and management mechanisms. [5] [6] showed that tree biomass and soil carbon densities in indigenous forests were not consistently greater than in plantations of exotics, depending on the plantations age and species. Although Meta analysis studies have shown that replacing native forests with agriculture and plantations (when less than 40 years of age) generally reduces soil carbon stock [7] [8] [9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Global instruments to reward countries embarking on reduced deforestation and degradation (REDD) and application of sustainable management of forest services (REDD+) to enhance carbon sequestration recognize the significance of indigenous tropical forest trees in carbon emissions sequestration capacity and mitigation of climate change [5] [6]. However the amount of biomass and carbon on site is largely determined by human activities and management mechanisms.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forest Biomass Management challenges in Commercially Exotic Tree Plantations Areas. A case study from the Rungwe Volcanic Province (Southern Highlands of Tanzania)

Mwakisunga¹

2017

GEP

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The carbon (C) stored in the living biomass of trees is typically the largest C pool of the forest ecosystem which is directly impacted by deforestation and degradation. With the global efforts to combat climate change through a forestation and reforestation to reduce carbon emissions in the atmosphere, natural forests conservation and tree planting programmes are highly emphasized in developing countries for both commercial purposes and carbon emissions reduction. Though most of the trees planted are exotic trees especially Pinus patula, Eucalyptus saligina and partly Cypress sp. with some fruit and shade trees in towns. When comparing survival and carbon content of exotic and indigenous trees grown, exotic trees have high initial biomass and growth rate while indigenous trees perform better in survival rates; also indigenous forest sequesters more above ground biomass (C) and soil carbon than exotic plantations. Hence embarking on clearance of forest's indigenous trees for plantation of commercial exotic trees slightly slows down the efforts of carbon emission reduction and mitigation of climate change through enhancement of carbon sequesters. Therefore, this calls for the need to assess how individual tree planting programs lead into natural forest's encroachment. The study was conducted at Mbeya One ward lying between Mporoto and Rungwe forest reserves in Mbeya rural district, in the Southern highlands of Tanzania. The main objective was 1) to assess the indigenous tree biomass variation between Mporoto and Rungwe forest reserves; 2) to assess the exotic tree biomass variation between the two forest reserves; and 3) to assess the human implication on aboveground biomass variation between the two forest reserves. The findings indicated significant decrease in indigenous trees biomass in residential and crop land areas with a hasty increase in biomass when just reaching Mporoto forest reserve indicating little human encroachment in the forest re- serve. There was the same trend towards Rungwe forest reserve; however, there was a slight increase in indigenous tree biomass when reaching forest reserve signing presence of human encroachment in the forest reserve. The main human activities observed in the reserve were: timber harvesting and commercial exotic trees planting (especially the commercial trees, Pinus patula). The trend was opposite for the exotic trees especially for Pinus patula and Eucalyptus sp. in the study area. Hence the study concludes that there is a significant variation between indigenous and exotic trees in the study area, hence the variation in the tree biomass. There is also a massive human encroachment for indigenous trees clearance in expense of exotic trees plantations towards and in Rungwe forest reserve. Therefore, the study would like to call for an urgent intervention especially in the east side of the study area (Rungwe forest reserve) stopping exotic tree plantation penetrating into the forest reserve which intensifies cutting down of indigenous trees in the forest reserve...

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Tree biomass and soil carbon stocks in indigenous forests in comparison to plantations of exotic species in the Taita Hills of Kenya

Cited by 41 publications

References 55 publications

Effects of Forest Disturbance on Vegetation Structure and Above-Ground Carbon in Three Isolated Forest Patches of Taita Hills

Effects of Forest Disturbance on Vegetation Structure and Above-Ground Carbon in Three Isolated Forest Patches of Taita Hills

Contribución de los bosques tropicales de montaña en el almacenamiento de carbono en Colombia

Forest Biomass Management challenges in Commercially Exotic Tree Plantations Areas. A case study from the Rungwe Volcanic Province (Southern Highlands of Tanzania)

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