Carbon stock in influenced forest of Srinagar hydroelectric project, Uttarakhand, India

Abstract

In the Uttarakhand Himalaya, hydroelectric projects are the major source of power generation and subsequently the source of income. The dam constructions in the hills of the Uttarakhand are diminishing large areas of forest cover. The present study was focused on the estimation of tree and soil carbon stocks in the influenced forest (close to the submergence forest) that is likely to be affected by the Alaknand hydroelectric river project, Srinagar in Uttarakhand, soon after its completion. For the study, five different forest sites, i.e., site-I, site-II, site-III, site-IV and site-IV, were selected from an area of approximately 12 km from the main reservoir area along the Alaknanda against the river flow. Among the forest sites, above- and belowground carbon density of forests was highest in site-II because of the highest number of tree species. The lowest number of tree species was in site-I, which was close to the dam construction area, and therefore had the highest percentage forest cover destruction compared to other sites. Soil organic carbon density was reported highest in site-IV and lowest in site-I. But the total carbon density of forest sites was reported highest (293.51 t ha−1) in site-II and lowest (109.82 t ha−1) in site-I. Thus, site-II was reported most productive in terms of carbon sequestration.