Assessment of Biomass Storage, Net Accumulation and Carbon Sequestration in Chir-Pine (<i>Pinus roxburghii</i> Sarg.) Dominated Community Forests of Kumaun Himalaya in relation to Climate Change

Abstract

The present study deals with the vegetation analysis, biomass storage and carbon sequestration at three different aspects of Van Panchayat (Community) forest sites around Nainital district of Kumaun Himalayas. All three aspects, viz; south-east (SE), east (E) and south (S) of Van Panchayat forests are dominated by Pinus roxburghii Sarg. The density of trees across all aspects of community forests varied from 450 to 670 individuals ha -1 . The basal area values reported varied from 31.16 to 56.32 m 2 ha -1 . The species diversity across aspects ranged from 0.440 to 1.389, 1.656 to 2.319 and 1.962 to 3.152 for trees, shrubs and herbs, respectively. Total biomass storage values of trees across all aspects ranged from 155.83 to 333.77 t ha-1. Net biomass accumulation by trees was 10.53 t ha -1 yr -1 on SE aspect (Chir-Pine forest), 8.05 t ha -1 yr -1 on E aspect (Chir Pine forest) and 7.96 t ha -1 yr -1 on S aspect (Chir-Pine forest). Net annual carbon sequestration of trees varied between 3.54 and 4.36 t C ha -1 yr -1 . The density, biomass storage, net annual biomass accumulation as well as carbon sequestration values reported are higher on SE aspect. It can be predicted that South-East aspect (mixed aspect) plays a significant role in forest growth and maturity as compared to East and South (singal) aspects. In general, strong rules and regulations and effective enforcement must have minimized degradation and deforestation of forests in this Van Panchyat. This will certainly help in increasing forest cover and reducing carbon emission which will lead to minimise rise in CO 2 level of the atmosphere.