Volume and Aboveground Biomass Models for Dry Miombo Woodland in Tanzania

Abstract

Tools to accurately estimate tree volume and biomass are scarce for most forest types in East Africa, including Tanzania. Based on a sample of 142 trees and 57 shrubs from a 6,065 ha area of dry miombo woodland in Iringa rural district in Tanzania, regression models were developed for volume and biomass of three important species,Brachystegia spiciformisBenth. (n = 40),Combretum molleG. Don (n = 41), andDalbergia arbutifoliaBaker (n = 37) separately, and for broader samples of trees (28 species,n = 72), shrubs (16 species,n = 32), and trees and shrubs combined (44 species,n = 104). Applied independent variables were log-transformed diameter, height, and wood basic density, and in each case a range of different models were tested. The general tendency among the final models is that the fit improved when height and wood basic density were included. Also the precision and accuracy of the predictions tended to increase from general to species-specific models. Except for a few volume and biomass models developed for shrubs, all models hadR2values of 96–99%. Thus, the models appear robust and should be applicable to forests with similar site conditions, species, and diameter ranges.

Distribution, biomass and local importance of tamarind trees in south-western Madagascar

“…However, such equations are still lacking for tamarind trees. Similar to other tree species in tropical countries (Basuki et al, 2009;Chave et al, 2005;Mwakalukwa et al, 2014), we found a high correlation between tree parameters (volume, DBH, CA) and wood biomass. In our study, the regression model with the predictor DBH and H yielded the most reliable equation with the lowest FI value.…”

“…The logarithm transformation of the data entails a bias in final biomass estimation (Parresol, 1999). This transformation underestimates the real value of the biomass which was corrected using a correction factor (Chave et al, 2005;Mwakalukwa et al, 2014) formula as follows:…”

“…There are numerous allometric biomass equations for tree species in temperate tropical and subtropical forests (Siebert et al, 2004;Chave et al, 2005;Basuki et al, 2009;Mwakalukwa et al, 2014). However, such equations are still lacking for tamarind trees.…”

The use of Eucalyptus in agroforestry systems of southern Rwanda : to integrate of segregate

“…Standing volume and aboveground biomass (W AGB ) are two main measures of forest stocking that are typically considered within the framework of sustainable forest management and for carbon accounting purposes (Brandeis et al, 2006). Accurate estimations of tree volume and forest biomass is crucial for assessing expected yields from commercial and subsistence harvesting (Mwakalukwa et al, 2014). It is also important for carbon storage assessments in relation to global climate change mitigation measures (Husch et al, 2003;Freer-Smith et al, 2007).…”

“…Unfortunately, allometric equations often produce biased results when applied outside the forest area or region where they were developed (Litton, 2008;Mwakalukwa et al, 2014). Direct measurement of plant biomass is by destructive sampling and is a tedious and timeconsuming process.…”