Carbon Stock and Carbon Dioxide Sequestration Potential in a Multi-species Forestry Plot of the Kagyu Nalanda Monastery, Bylakuppe, Mysore District, Karnataka, India

Abstract

In the Kagyu Nalanda Monastery in Bylakuppe, Karnataka, India, during 2010-2011 has established the multi-species forestry plots in the degraded land of the monastery and nurtured them. In one of these plots (2.5 ha in size) aboveground biomass, carbon stock and the potential of carbon dioxide sequestration in the aboveground biomass were assessed. In the study plot, 927 trees belonging to 45 species were recorded. The Gini Index obtained for different species indicated that within a species the inequality is low for tree height when compared to that for tree basal area. The estimated total basal area and total tree volume in the study plot is 33.34 m 2 and 315.73 m 3 respectively. The total aboveground biomass for the plot was 326.39 tonnes with the total carbon stock of 163.18 tonnes. A positive correlation was observed between the carbon stock and total tree volume of the top five species ( Cassia fistula , Swietenia macrophylla, Mangifera indica , Moringa oleifera and Spathodea campanulata), which contributed predominantly (54%) of the total carbon stock (r=0.812, p<0.05). The study plot sequestrated 598.13 tonnes of carbon dioxide with mean annual rate of 59.81 tonnes. the potential annual economic value of carbon dioxide sequestrated in the aboveground biomass of tree community in the study area ranges from US$ 239.3 to 2,990.7 (Indian Rupees 17,872 to 2,23,402; US$ 1= Rs.74.7). The scope for selling the carbon credits generated in this multi-species forestry plot to buyers to support further environmental priorities are discussed.