Assessment of Carbon Sequestration Potential of a Disturbed Humid Tropical Ecosystem, Southeast Nigeria

Abstract

Potentially, vegetation plays an important role in reducing the CO2 emitted by anthropogenic activities in cities, especially by extensive green vegetation. Accurate estimation of C stock by urban vegetation is difficult due to the fragmented nature of urban ecosystems and inherent variability in the distribution of tree species. This research work was carried out to assess the carbon sequestration ability of selected woody species within the main campus of Federal University of Technology Owerri, Nigeria as a means of mitigating the effects of GHGs emissions. The carbon sequestration analysis was conducted on woody species (Terminalia catapa, Azadirachta indica, Platanus occidentalis, Cassia sp., Magnifera indica, Milicia excels, Bouea macrophylla etc.) in four land use categories viz high forest, secondary re-growth forest, bush fallow area and built up areas. All measurements were taken at DBH ≥5 cm. The total carbon stock sequestered by individual trees was highest in the high forest areas and lowest in the built up areas. Also, the highest diameter at breast height (DBH) of an individual tree was recorded in the built up areas while the lowest was recorded in the forests. The total C stock sequestered per hectare of trees ranged from 44.2 to 311.7 tC/ha. The highest was recorded in the forested areas while the lowest sequestration was recorded in the built up areas.