Volume yield, tree species diversity and carbon hoard in protected areas of two developing countries

Abstract

The contributions of Protected Areas (PAs) in two developing countries (India and Nigeria) to biodiversity conservation and carbon accumulation were assessed in this study. Data were collected through field inventory from 12 plots (25 × 25 m) randomly located in each of the PAs. In each plot, all woody plants were identified and tree growth variables were measured for trees with diameter at breast height ≥10 cm. We discovered that the two PAs are well stocked, mature and rich in tree species diversity with potentials for continuous growth as a result of the presence of young trees in the lower canopy. The biological diversity indices compared favorably with other similar PAs. The high above-ground biomass and carbon of the tree species revealed the roles of PAs in climate change mitigation through CO2 absorption from the atmosphere. The difference in their phytosociological characteristics and carbon sink capacities, with higher values obtained for Nigerian forest, was attributed to the variation in geographical location, climatic conditions and soil properties. The protection of these PAs should be enhanced for biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation. The perceived challenges in developing countries with forest protection can be mitigated by introducing some institutional policies and rural community involvement in forest management.