Carbon Stock Analysis along Slope and Slope Aspect Gradient in Gedo Forest: Implications for Climate Change Mitigation

Abstract

Tropical forests have the largest potential to mitigate climate change amongst the world’s forests through conservation of existing carbon pools and expansion of carbon sinks . Ethiopia is one of tropical country which has significant forest resource but the studies on carbon stock variation along environmental variables have not been well studied. This study was done with the aim of assessing carbon stock amount variation along slope and slope aspect gradient in Gedo forest. Data was collected from 10 m × 20 m plot along transect in systematically stratified forest part. The largest total mean carbon stock (570.67 ± 40 ton ha-1) was found in lower slope class and the lowest total mean carbon stock (421.2 ± 56.2 ton ha-1) was found in higher slope class. The deadwood biomass was only found in lower slope class. The highest mean total carbon stock was calculated in east slope aspect (778.13 ± 75.93 ton ha-1) and the lowest mean total carbon stock was calculated in south west slope aspect (358.58 ± 73.45 ton ha-1). Slope has significant effect on leaf litter biomass carbon. Slope aspect has significant effect on aboveground biomass and below ground biomass carbon, soil organic carbon and total carbon density. Based on overall result it is concluded carbon stock in a forest ecosystem is determined by slope aspect and slope gradient.