Abstract
In a context of climate change characterized by rising temperatures, increased greenhouse gases and frequent droughts, the Sahel is presented as one of the most vulnerable areas to the adverse effects of climate change. The Sahel is presented as one of the most vulnerable areas to the adverse effects of climate change. The objective of this study is to assess the above-ground biomass and carbon stock of three Sahelian species: Acacia raddiana tortilis (Forsk.) hayne ssp. raddiana (savi) Brenan, Acacia senegal (L.) Willd and Balanites aegyptiaca (L.). The study was carried out in northern Senegal commonly known as Ferlo. Biomasses of the populations of the three target species were first assessed by harvesting the entire epigenetic part of the species and then modelled by correlation using dendrometric parameters measured on each individual of the sample. Two models, mono-specific and multi-species, were used. The results obtained showed that the diameter at breast height (x) and the parameter best correlated to the epigeal biomass (y). The dry biomass of woody plants was 31.4 ± 15.2 kg/tree for B. aegyptiaca, 30.6 ± 13.2 kg/tree for A. senegal and 26.2 ± 11.1 kg/tree for A. raddiana; i.e. carbon equivalents of 14.75 - 14.38 - 12.31 kg/tree respectively. The amount of carbon contained in the above-ground woody biomass is estimated at 4.48 t/ha. The carbon equivalent, atmospheric CO2 is estimated at 16.44 tons of CO2/ha and based on the actual density of Ferlo (108.08 ± 49.79 ind/ha) the sequestered carbon of the area is estimated at 1777.008 tons of CO2. The comparison between the models developed in this study and the multispecific or mono-specific models from the literature showed substantial differences. This study contributes to a better understanding of the contribution of Sahelian woody species to carbon sequestration and the results could be used in the framework of adaptation to climate change.
Highlights
From the drought years of the 1970s to the 1990s, the Sahel region underwent profound ecological and socio-economic changes [1] [2]
The dry biomass of each of the three species is correlated to three dendrometric parameters: diameter at breast height (DBH), total tree height and crown diameter
It is essential to refine a new non-destructive methodology based on major species of the area for a better estimation of the carbon stock. This present study carried out in the Ferlo on populations of A. raddiana, A. senegal and B. aegyptiaca allowed building on the one hand, mono-specific allometric models linking dendrometric parameters to the aerial phytomass and on the other hand, evaluating the quantity of carbon sequestered by these species in the Ferlo
Summary
From the drought years of the 1970s to the 1990s, the Sahel region underwent profound ecological and socio-economic changes [1] [2]. In Sahelian ecosystems, the plant biomass produced decreases when the annual rainfall is less than 250 mm; even though soil conditions and human activities have a great influence [6] This biomass provides important information on the functioning and economic productivity of agrosystems as well as their potential for sequestering atmospheric carbon [6]. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [7], significant terrestrial carbon stocks are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and/or land-use change To address these concerns, it is important to provide this international community with recent scientific information useful in the fight or mitigation of climate change due to the emission of greenhouse gases, especially carbon
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