Plant Diversity and Carbon Storage Assessment in an African Protected Forest: A Case of the Eastern Part of the Dja Wildlife Reserve in Cameroon

Abstract

Although the forests of the Congo basin are known for their richness in species, there are still several works in assessing their biomass. Mindful of this fact, the present study performed in the Dja biosphere reserve aims to assess plant diversity and carbon stocks. 10 transects of 5 ha each were assessed. 9,293 individuals divided into 47 families, 150 genera and 205 species were recorded. Euphorbiaceae was the most important family. The overall carbon stocks assessed was, 354.73 Mg C/ha. In the secondary forest the quantity of carbon stocks evaluated was 330.67±40.07 Mg C/ha. The Raphiales and Wetlands accumulated a quantity of carbon stocks of 15.06±0.08 and 9.00±2.06 Mg C/ha respectively. Euphorbiaceae stored an amount of 68.38 Mg C/ha, followed by the Mimosaceae which stores the amount of 51.07 Mg C/ha and the Irvingiaceae which stores an amount of 26.07 Mg C/ha. Uapaca guineensis stored 53.60 Mg C/ha. Pentaclethra macrophylla, Petersianthus macrocarpus and Desbordesia glaucescens all stored 117.56 Mg C/ha. For an index of diversity of 3.71, secondary forest stores approximately 93% of the total carbon stock. The test of comparison carried out showed a significant difference between the carbon stocks obtained on the land cover type (LCT) (ANOVA, F = 45.76; P < 0.001).