Above ground biomass carbon assessment using field, satellite data and model based integrated approach to predict the carbon sequestration potential of major land use sector of Arunachal Himalaya, India

Abstract

The land-use sector needs special importance owing to its ability to store and emit carbon back to the atmosphere. Land-use changes and their correlations could elucidate conditions that put forests at risk of conversion to other land uses. The impact of rapid forest cover change tends to reduce the percentage of forest cover, thereby reducing the potential for carbon storage in woody biomass. The study was conducted in the state of Arunachal Pradesh to estimate the above-ground biomass, carbon pool and sequestration potential of major land-use sectors. The above-ground biomass of selected land-uses viz. dense forest, moderately dense forest, open forest, plantations, Jhum >5 years, Jhum <5 years and current jhum are 332.28 t ha−1, 246.63 t ha−1, 145.36 t ha−1, 179.31 t ha−1, 149.63 t ha−1, 55.40 t ha−1, 16.84 t ha−1 respectively. The developed model is derived from Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) and Atmospherically Resistant Vegetation Index (ARVI) for prediction of above-ground biomass (AGB) (R 2 = 0.85, p < 0.05). The resultant R 2 value of 85% predicts that 79% of accuracy could be assumed by the model. The RMSE of the model was 53.21 t ha−1, having no multicollinearity problem keeping tolerance (0.49) and VIF (2.80). The spatial AGB density map was predicted using a step-wise linear regression model which used AGB, SAVI and ARVI of the corresponding sample plot location. The implication of the land-use change revealed that about 84% carbon will be lost from dense forest once it is converted to Jhum (Jhum is the alternate name of Shifting cultivation in India) followed by Jhum <5 years (65%). It is pertinent to mention here that, the present analysis will help the policymakers in visualizing a proper developmental goal to regulate land-use changes for achieving the higher carbon stock and maintaining balance in the global climate scenario.