Estimating the economic value of absorbing and storing carbon in dipterocarp forests in Ia Pa district, Gia Lai province

Abstract

Dry dipterocarp forest is one of the ecosystems that features variety of rare plants and animals. The forest in Ia Pa district, Gia Lai province is declining owing to illegal logging and encroachment of forest land for cultivation. Forest degradation can reduce CO2 sequestration, contributing to increasing greenhouse gas emission and global warming. The study was carried out in the 4 quadrats (each 2,500 m2 = 50 × 50 m) in dry dipterocarp forest of Ia Pa district. In each quadrat, 5 sub-quadrats (each 25 m2 = 5 × 5 m) were set up, one at a central point and four at four corners of the quadrat, respectively. Based on the relationship between carbon stock and above-ground biomass, we found that CO2 accumulation in dry dipterocarp forest was 105.6 tons/ha corresponding to the economic value of 12,299,760 VND/ha. Thus, it is necessary to improve forest quality towards sustainable management of dry dipterocarp forest ecosystem and increase the economic value of the forest with respect to environmental services.