Abstract
ABSTRACT World wet tropical forests, and especially the ones in the Colombian Pacific area, are the target of a small tree (minor diameter) selective harvest process, used in short-cycle industries, such as bioenergy. This situation generates a reduction in stored carbon and biomass, and becomes an emission of greenhouse gases (GHG). Allometric models for aboveground biomass are few, despite being an important tool of carbon calculation. The goal of this study was to develop multi-species allometric models for small trees aboveground biomass in wet tropical forests. A total of 61 individuals (diameter at breast height -DBH- < 12 cm) was measured, cut and weighed to estimate their biomass. The model with the best adjustment was selected considering criteria of determination coefficient (R2) and adjusted R2, mean quadratic error of prediction, Akaike and Bayesian Information Criteria and the biological logic of the model. Best-fit allometric model (R2= 0,72) was with DBH and total height as independent variables, considering that it is a multi-species model coming from forests with a high diversity.
Highlights
Forests play a specific and very important role in the global carbon-cycle, absorbing carbon dioxide during photosynthesis and storing it above and belowground (Ilyas, 2013)
The existence of local allometric models to estimate biomass in different land uses is a fundamental part of the carbon inventories, and these are a basic requirement to develop forest projects for greenhouse gases (GHG) mitigation
The comparison of the model with the best adjustment of the current study with others from specialized literature permits to see its applicability, considering that some of these models are recommended as general and could be applied to the conditions of Figura 2 – Relação entre a biomasa aérea total estimada e observada dos modelos de melhor ajuste em árvores pequenas (DAP < 12 cm) em bosques do Consejo Comunitario de la Cuenca del Bajo Calima, Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca, Colombia
Summary
Forests play a specific and very important role in the global carbon-cycle, absorbing carbon dioxide during photosynthesis and storing it above and belowground (Ilyas, 2013). A mechanism of mitigation and adaptation to climate change are the projects of Reduction of Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) as a political-effective option. The existence of local allometric models to estimate biomass in different land uses is a fundamental part of the carbon inventories, and these are a basic requirement to develop forest projects for greenhouse gases (GHG) mitigation. Forest biomass has been studied with different purposes, among which is the nutrient cycle, for energetic purposes, in forest growth assessment, for forest management purposes, environmental impact mitigation, and obtaining economic incentives for forest preservation and the reduction of such gases (Sanquetta et al, 2014). Being aware that forest cover is the main carbon sink, these ecosystems are considered as a climatic change mitigation strategy at global level (FAO, 2010; Banco Mundial, 2018). The main threat to conservation of forests in Bajo Calima, Valle del Cauca and Colombian Pacific is the indiscriminate tree harvest of the commercial species most appreciated by the community (Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo [United Nations Development Program] PNUD, 2010), which has caused forest destruction and a modification in the landscape that may start biodiversity degradation (Martínez, 2007)
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