Biomass, carbon stock and sequestration potential of Oxytenanthera abyssinica forests in Lower Beles River Basin, Northwestern Ethiopia

Shiferaw Abebe,Trinh Thang Long,Durai Jayaraman,Amare Sewnet Minale,Demel Teketay

doi:10.1186/s13021-021-00192-5

Abstract

BackgroundGiven the large bamboo resource base with considerable potential to act as an important carbon sink, Ethiopia has included bamboo in the national Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation and enhancing forest carbon stocks (REDD+) and Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM) programs. However, little is known about the carbon stock and sequestration potential of bamboo forests. As a result, this research was conducted to quantify the carbon sequestration and storage capacity of Oxytenanthera abyssinica forests in the Lower Beles River Basin, northwestern Ethiopia. To this end, a total of 54 circular plots, each measuring 100 m2 with a radius of 5.64 m, were established to conduct the inventory in Assitsa and Eddida bamboo forests, the typical bamboo sites in Lower Beles River Basin. Biomass accumulation of bamboo was estimated using an allometric equation based on diameter at breast height (DBH) and age. Soil samples were taken from two different soil depths (0–15 and 15–30 cm) to determine soil organic carbon.ResultsResults indicate that the mean biomass of the bamboo forests in the study area accounted for about 177.1 pm 3.1 Mg ha−1. The mean biomass carbon and soil organic carbon stock of the bamboo forests were 83.2 pm 1.5 Mg C ha−1 and 70 pm 1.7 Mg C ha−1, respectively. Therefore, the mean carbon stock of the O. abyssinica bamboo forests was 152.5 pm 2.5 Mg C ha−1 to 559.8 pm 9.0 ton CO2 ha−1.ConclusionThis study highlights the importance of assessing bamboo’s carbon stock and sequestration potential for enhancing its role in climate change mitigation and sustainable resource management. The O. abyssinica bamboo forests of the study area have significant carbon stock and sequestration potential. Therefore, sustainable management of these crucial vegetation resources will enhance their role in providing ecosystem services, including climate change mitigation.

Highlights

Given the large bamboo resource base with considerable potential to act as an important carbon sink, Ethiopia has included bamboo in the national Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation and enhancing forest carbon stocks (REDD+) and Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM) programs
Description of the study area This study was conducted in two O. abyssinica forests of Mandura District in the Lower Beles River Basin
The analysis indicates that soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) concentration varied significantly (P < 0.05) across soil depth (Table 3)

Summary

Introduction

Given the large bamboo resource base with considerable potential to act as an important carbon sink, Ethiopia has included bamboo in the national Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation and enhancing forest carbon stocks (REDD+) and Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM) programs. This research was conducted to quantify the carbon sequestration and storage capacity of Oxytenanthera abyssinica forests in the Lower Beles River Basin, northwestern Ethiopia. Climate change mitigation has received the earnest attention of scientists, resource managers, and policymakers [1]. In this regard, carbon (C) sequestration by growing and managing forests has been recognized as the main mitigation strategy for the changing climate [1,2,3]. The characteristics of bamboo make it a perfect solution for the environmental and societal consequences of tropical deforestation [9]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion