Abstract
Forest trees and soil are considered for climate change mitigation. Forest structure of the grove is required to predict its capacity to mitigate climate change. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the forest structure and carbon stocks of Osun-Osogbo Sacred grove. Five (30 × 30 m2) plots were demarcated in Old-growth forest (OF) and Re-growth forest (RF). Trees with ≥10 cm diameter-at-breast-height (dbh) were identified to species level and enumerated. Tree height and dbh were measured and stem volumes were converted to carbon stock. Soil samples were collected with cores at three soil depths, oven-dried and carbon content estimated. The tree species diversity and richness indices of OF was higher than OR. Diameter distribution of OF and RF expressed reverse J-shaped and rotated sigmoid curves, respectively. The stem carbon stock ranged from 0.12±0.00 (OF) to 0.02±0.00 Mg/ha (RF). The soil carbon stock ranged from 0.65 (OF) to 0.90 Mg/ha (RF). Stand structure of OF was more develop than RF. The OF and RF contained high stem and soil carbon stocks, respectively. Forest structure enhances stem carbon stock of Old-growth forest while soil of Re-growth forest is also an option for carbon sequestration. Key words: Carbon sequestration, stem diameter distribution, carbon stock, forest structure, old-growth forest.
Highlights
Climate change is recognized to be one of the most adverse global environmental problems (Tashi, 2017; Anand, 2013)
A total of 75 tree species representing 30 families was found in the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove
The high value of species diversity and richness in the Old-growth forest was probably due to the presence of numerous micro-climatic conditions and differences in habitat preference among the species, which enhances the high association of various resident tree species
Summary
Climate change is recognized to be one of the most adverse global environmental problems (Tashi, 2017; Anand, 2013). One of the inexpensive ameliorative strategies of climate change is the sequestration of carbon dioxide through photosynthesis by forest trees and subsequent deposition in soil. The contribution of tropical forests to carbon sequestration is imperative, because of the magnitude and capacity of biomass and soil carbon pools that can absorb the sequestered CO2 (Oades, 1988). Sacred groves are forests protected by people for spiritual and cultural practices, and completely protected from human interference (Israel et al, 1997).
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