Carbon Sequestration Potential of Hills (Studied) Around Pune City, Pune

Abstract

Pune is situated in close proximity (50kms) on the biodiversity of Sahyadri Hills also known as the Western Ghats. As per the land use distribution of Pune city, the total area covered under hills and hill slopes is 1245 ha i.e., 5.10% of the total land. The Hills environment in the city is subjected to intense pressure due to all types of developmental projects and encroachment. The mounting concrete structures due to these developments have resulted in the loss of green covers on the hills covering parts of Western Ghats which are a resultant of the increasing climate change. We have sampled 10 hills namely ARAI. Baner, Bhopdev Ghat, Chaturshringi, Fergusson College, Kothrud hill, Sutarwadi. University, Vetal- Parvati for biomass, a total of 124 quadrates of size 15 m X 15 m were plotted. Each and every tree in the quadrate is sampled along with GPS and random soil samples were collected for soil carbon analysis. Soil samples were taken from soil profile up to 30 cm depth. Walkley-Black Wet Oxidation method was applied for measuring soil organic carbon. Total amount of above and belowground carbon sequestered was estimated and the values are extrapolated which comes to the value of1336886568 tonnes; litter and deadwood 17509.44 tonnes, and soil organic carbon 792001603.46 tonnes; and the sum of all were 212,89,05,681 tonnes. The rates of carbon in active markets are US$ 30 (Thirty dollars) per tonne. Putting a conservative value of US$ 30 per tonne of CO2 locked in these sampled gardens, this carbon sink of about 212,89,05,681 tonnes of CO2 is worth of US $ 63,867,170,430 or Indian Rs. 4,701,901,087,056.6 /- It will help in mitigating the total carbon emissions and reducing the carbon footprints of the Pune city and thereby decreasing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.