Abstract
Canopy density and forest biomass estimation are critical for understanding of the carbon cycle, climate change and detecting health status of the forest ecosystems. This study was conducted on the coastal forests reserves in Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania. A systematic sampling design was used to establish a total of 110 temporary sample plots in all study sites. The stratification of the forests was adopted to identify closed forest patches with less anthropogenic effects. The study assessed the forest canopy density and above ground biomass with relative carbon stock for closed forest classes. Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park in Zanzibar recorded higher average canopy densities of 63% followed by Ngezi (46%), Pugu forests (26%) and Kazimzumbwi (16%). However, Ngezi forest had higher forest biomass than all study sites with the overall mean AGB of 138.5 tAGB/ha equivalent to carbon stock of 67.9 tC/ha. Tree species, Bombax rhodognaphala (Msufi mwitu) and Antiaris toxicaria (Mgulele) recorded the highest biomass of 1099 tABG/ha and 703 tAGB/ha (equivalent to 538 tC/ha and (345 tC/ha)) respectively. The study revealed that about 35% of the total closed forest patches at Pugu FR were covered by lower canopy density which accounted about 490 ha. Kazimzumbwi FR was dominated by lower canopy density which represented about 64% of the total forest cover area (1750 ha).
Highlights
Canopy density and forest biomass estimation are critical for understanding of the carbon cycle, climate change and detecting health status of the forest ecosystems
Canopy density and forest biomass estimation are critical for understanding the carbon cycle and detecting health status of the forest ecosystems
The study focused on four sites which include Pugu and Kazimzumbwi Forest Reserves (PKFR) located in Kisarawe, Coast Region, Ngezi Nature Reserve (NNR) found in northern part of Pemba Island and Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park (JCBNP) located at southern part of Unguja Island (Figure 1)
Summary
Canopy density and forest biomass estimation are critical for understanding the carbon cycle and detecting health status of the forest ecosystems. The biomass estimation is highly appreciated as it provides reliable information needed for monitoring climate change mitigation efforts including carbon sequestration (Zhang et al, 2017). It is likely that these climate changes and variability might be responsible for the negative change of forest vegetation including forest cover and biomass along the coastal zone of Tanzania in addition to anthropogenic forest losses estimated at 470,000 ha per year (Gizachew et al, 2020). Knowing that droughts have been directly linked as a new major threat to tropical forests causing higher mortality rates of forest trees (Brodribb et al, 2020, Zhang et al, 2017), it is worthwhile to have forest canopy density and forest biomass information for monitoring their changes due to climate change and variability such as droughts. The coastal forests of Tanzania lack reliable time series forest information making difficult to monitor the effects of climatic condition on forest variables
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