Characterization and Carbon Sequestration Potential of Sahelian Agroforestry Parklands of Chad

Abstract

Agroforestry parklands are agroforestry systems which farmers created by preserving useful species on their farms. These species are those whose flowers, fruits, seeds, barks or leaves can be processed into useful products. Parklands are thus the result of human intervention in natural vegetation dynamics and their diversity results from ecological factors affecting the neighborhood and the management of trees. The purpose of this work is to characterize and assess the carbon potential of Chad sahelian agroforestry parklands. A total survey area of 90 hectares of parklands of which 30 ha per site were explorated. Compass and GPS were used to establish transects of 50 m in length over 20 m in width and the community sampling units were established (20 sampling plots/ha). In each plot, plants were identified and enumerated. Diameter of plants was measured at 1.30 m aboveground for trees and at 0.30 m for shrublets. The dendrometric parameters measures effectuated throughout transects follow standard forestry methods. The result revealed that three types of agroforestry parklands exist in sahelian zone of Chad among which <i>Hyphaene thebaica</i>, <i>Balanites aegyptiaca</i> and mixed <i>Acacia senegal</i> - <i>A. nilotica</i> parklands. Their structure varies according to the specific flora and dominant species. Floristic survey showed a total of 4801 trees recorded and distributed in 22 species, 17 genera and 14 families. The ecological services of the Chad sahelian parklands fluctuate from 20.25 tCO₂/ha in <i>Balanites aegyptiaca</i> parkland to 77.36tCO₂/ha in <i>Hyphaene thebaica</i> parkland, confirming the heterogenous carbon sequestration potential of the parklands. These informations will help to develop the REDD+ mechanisms in the area.