• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.382-394
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• 2024

Background: Humbo Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) forest is managed through direct involvement of the local community and funded by the World Vision Australia through World Vision Ethiopia under framework of the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism on greenhouse gas emissions. Understanding the amount and distribution of carbon stored in forests across different elevations will enhance ability to anticipate how forests will react to future climate conditions and carbon levels. The aim of the study was to quantify the amount of carbon stocks along altitudinal gradients in the Humbo FMNR forest in southern Ethiopia. A total of 54 nested sample plots of 20 m × 20 m were established on transects of elevation gradients. Inventories of woody species and soil samples (0-10 cm and 10-20 cm depth) were collected within each nested sample plot. Carbon stocks in woody biomass and soil were compared by three elevation classes. Results: The total carbon stocks significantly (p < 0.05) differed among the three altitudinal gradients. There is no significant difference in biomass carbon stocks between the middle (1,610-1,750 m above sea level [a.s.l.]) and lower (1,470-1,610 m a.s.l.) elevations. However, both of these elevations significantly differ (p < 0.05) from the higher (1,750-1,890 m a.s.l.) elevation, despite an increase in carbon stocks from lower to higher elevations. The highest ecosystem carbon stock was contributed by soil carbon. The higher proportion of C stocks at the higher elevations may be associated to the species composition and dominance with larger wood density. Conclusions: It was concluded that even though soil carbon contributed higher carbon to the total carbon stock, biomass is stronger impact than soil carbon when it comes to carbon stock variation by altitudinal gradients. We recommend that carbon-related awareness creation on reducing emission for the local people and promotion of knowledge on carbon stock credits accounting and to be claimed in future for financing, which could be considered as additional possible option for sustainable forest management.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2018

We studied natural and plantation forest ecosystem of Sarguja in Chhattisgarh, India in order to understand how vegetation biomass, carbon stock and its allocation patterns vary among the sites. For this, stratified random sampling was opted to measure the different layers of vegetation. Wide floral diversity was found in the natural forest site as compared to the teak stand. Overall, 17 tree species found in natural forest comprising 8 families while in the teak stand 6 species were recorded. In understory strata 23 species were recorded (18 herbs and 5 shrubs) in natural forest whereas in teak stand 20 herb species and 3 shrubs were found. Great variation was also seen in the population dynamics of the different vegetation stratum in concerned sites. The sapling, seedling and herb density was found to be highest in natural stand while tree and shrub density was more in teak stand. Results indicated that stand biomass of the natural site was $321.19t\;ha^{-1}$ while in the teak stand it was $276.61t\;ha^{-1}$. The total biomass of tree layer in plantation site was $245.22t\;ha^{-1}$ and natural forest $241.44t\;ha^{-1}$. The sapling, seedling, shrub and forest floor biomass was found highest under natural forest as compared to the teak plantation site. Carbon stock has similar trend as that of biomass accumulation in natural forest and teak stand. Higher biomass accumulation and carbon stock were recorded in the higher girth class gradation of the population structure. Proper efforts are required to manage these diverse ecosystems to obtain higher biomass and sustainable ecological services.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.161-182
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• 2019

Quantifying the amount of carbon pools in forest ecosystems enables to understand about various carbon pools in the forest ecosystem. Therefore, this study was conducted in the Chilimo dry afromontane forest to estimate the amount of carbon stored. The natural forest was stratified into three forest patches based on species composition, diversity, and structure. A total of 50 permanent sample plots of 20 m × 20 m (400 ㎡ ) each were established, laid out on transects of altitudinal gradients with a distance of 100 m between plots. The plots were measured twice in 2012 and 2017. Tree, deadwood, mineral soil, forest floor, and stump data were collected in the main plots, while shrubs, saplings, herbaceous plants, and seedling data were sampled inside subplots. Soil organic carbon (SOC %) was analyzed following Walkely, while Black's procedure and bulk density were estimated following the procedure of Blake (Methods of soil analysis, 1965). Aboveground biomass was calculated using the equation of Chave et al. (Glob Chang Biol_20:3177-3190, 2014). Data analysis was made using RStudio software. To analyze equality of means, we used ANOVA for multiple comparisons among elevation classes at α = 0.05. The aboveground carbon of the natural forest ranged from 148.30 ± 115.02 for high altitude to 100.14 ± 39.93 for middle altitude, was highest at 151.35 ± 108.98 t C ha^-1 for gentle slope, and was lowest at 88.01 ± 49.72 t C ha^-1 for middle slope. The mean stump carbon density 2.33 ± 1.64 t C ha^-1 was the highest for the middle slope, and 1.68 ± 1.21 t C ha^-1 was the lowest for the steep slope range. The highest 1.44 ± 2.21 t C ha^-1 deadwood carbon density was found under the middle slope range, and the lowest 0.21 ± 0.20 t C ha^-1 was found under the lowest slope range. The SOCD up to 1 m depth was highest at 295.96 ± 80.45 t C ha^-1 under the middle altitudinal gradient; however, it was lowest at 206.40 ± 65.59 t C ha^-1 under the lower altitudinal gradient. The mean ecosystem carbon stock density of the sampled plots in natural forests ranged from 221.89 to 819.44 t C ha^-1. There was a temporal variation in carbon pools along environmental and social factors. The highest carbon pool was contributed by SOC. We recommend forest carbon-related awareness creation for local people, and promotion of the local knowledge can be regarded as a possible option for sustainable forest management.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2022.05a
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• pp.159-159
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• 2022

Soil represents a substantial component within the global carbon cycle and small changes in the SOC stock may result in large changes of atmospheric CO₂ particularly over tens to hundreds of years. In this study, we aim to (i) evaluate the SOC stock in the topsoil 0 - 15 cm from soil physical and chemical characteristics and (ii) find the correlation of SOC and soil organic matter (SOM) for national-scale in South Korea. First of all, based on the characteristics of the soil to calculate the soil hydraulic properties, SOC stock is the SOC mass per unit area for a given depth. It depends on bulk density (BD-g/cm³), SOC content (%), the depth of topsoil (cm), and gravel content (%). Due to insufficient data on BD observation, we establish a correlation between BD and SOC content, sand content, clay content parameter. Next, we present linear and non-linear regression models of BD and the interrelationship between SOC and SOM using a linear regression model and determine the conversion factor for them, comparing with Van Bemmelen 1890's factor value for the country scale. The results obtained, helps managers come up with suitable solutions to conserve land resources.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.91-112
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• 2020

In Ethiopia, dry land vegetation including the fairly intact lowland and western escarpment woodlands occupy the largest vegetation resource of the country. These forests play a central role in environmental regulation and socio-economic assets, yet they received less scientific attention than the moist forests. This study evaluated the woody plant species composition, population structure and carbon sequestration potential of the A. senegal woodland across three distance gradients from the settlements. A total of 45 sample quadrants were laid along a systematically established nine parallel transect lines to collect vegetation and soil data across distance gradients from settlement. Mature tree dry biomass with DBH>2.5 cm was estimated using allometric equations. A total of 41 woody plant species that belong to 20 families were recorded and A. senegal was the dominant species with 56.4 IVI value. Woody plant species diversity, density and richness were significantly higher in the distant plots compared to the nearest plots to settlement (p<0.05). The cumulative DBH class distribution of all individuals had showed an interrupted inverted J-shape population pattern. There were 19 species without seedlings, 15 species without saplings and 14 species without both seedlings and saplings. A significant above ground carbon (5.3 to 12.7 ton ha^-1), root carbon (1.6 to 3.6 ton ha^-1), soil organic carbon (35.6 to 44.5 ton ha^-1), total carbon stock (42.5 to 60.7 ton ha^-1) and total carbon dioxide equivalent (157.7 to 222.8 ton ha^-1) was observed consistently with an increasing of distance from settlement (p<0.05). Distance from settlement had significant and positive correlation with species diversity and carbon stock at 0.64^⁎⁎ and 0.78^⁎⁎. Disturbance intensity may directly influence the variation of species composition, richness and density along the A. senegal woodland. The sustainability of the A. senegal woodland needs urgent protection, conservation and restoration.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.209-223
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• 2018

We investigated tree composition, stand characteristics, biomass allocation pattern and carbon storage variability in Sal forests (Shorea robusta Garten.) under two forest management regimes (Sal forest and Sal plantation) in Tripura, Northeast India. The results revealed higher species richness (29 species), stand density of $1060.00{\pm}11.12stems\;ha^{-1}$ and diversity index ($1.90{\pm}0.08$) in Sal forest. and lower species richness (4 species), stand density of $ 230.00{\pm}37.22stems\;ha^{-1}$ and diversity index ($0.38{\pm}0.15$) in Sal plantation. The total basal cover $33.02{\pm}4.87m^2ha^{-1}$) and dominance ($0.76{\pm}0.08$) were found higher in Sal plantation than the Sal forest ($22.53{\pm}0.38m^2ha^{-1}$ and $0.23{\pm}0.02$ respectively). The total vegetation carbon density was recorded higher in Sal plantation ($219.68{\pm}19.65Mg\;ha^{-1}$) than the Sal forest ($167.64{\pm}16.73Mg\;ha^{-1}$). The carbon density estimates acquired in this study suggest that Sal plantation in Tripura has the potentiality to store a large amount of atmospheric carbon inspite of a very low species diversity. However, Sal forests has also an impending sink of carbon due to presence of large number of young trees.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.554-558
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• 2007

Current biomass stock of forest has been calculated by using biomass expansion factors (BEFs) that convert timber volumes to dry weight and stem density. The objective of this study was to estimate stem density values and to develop BEFs that are dependent on tree age classes for Quercus acuta stands in Jeonnam Wando-gun. Sample trees on the three different age classes were harvested to obtain each components biomass with stem analysis. Stem density values as tree age classes were ranged from 0.557 to 0.636. Aboveground BEFs were ranged from 1.168 to 1.324. BEFs were increased with increasing age classes. There was a significant difference between BEFs and stem density values with tree age classes. These results suggest that the reliability of the national carbon stock inventory could be improved by applying age classes BEFs, which are formulated on the basis of representative for Quercus acuta.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.393-399
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• 2017

According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), all parties have to submit the national GHG inventory report. Estimating carbon stocks and changes in Land Use, Land-Use Changes and Forestry (LULUCF) needs an activity data and emission factors. So this study was conducted to develop carbon emission factor for Robinia pseudoacacia L., Betula platyphylla var. japonica, and Liriodendron tulipifera. As a result, the basic wood density ($g/cm_3$) was 0.64 for R. pseudoacacia, 0.55 for B. platyphylla, and 0.46 for L. tulipifera. Biomass expansion factor was 1.47 for R. pseudoacacia, 1.30 for B. platyphylla, and 1.24 for L. tulipifera. Root to shoot ratio was 0.48 for R. pseudoacacia, 0.29 for B. platyphylla, and 0.23 for L. tulipifera. Uncertainty of estimated emission factors on three species ranged from 3.39% to 27.43% within recommended value (30%) by IPCC. We calculated carbon stock and change using these emission factors. Three species stored carbon in forest and net $CO_2$ removal was $1,255,398\;t\;CO_2/yr$ during 5 years. So we concluded that our result could be used as emission factors for national GHG inventory report on forest sector.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.128-140
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• 2021

Tropical dry forests are one of the most threatened, widely distributed ecosystems in tropics and estimation of forest biomass is a crucial component of global carbon emission estimation. Therefore, the present study was aimed to quantify the biomass and carbon storage in trees on large scale (10, 1 ha plots) in the dry mixed evergreen forest of Javadhu forest of Eastern Ghats. Biomass of adult (≥10 cm DBH) trees was estimated by non-harvest methods. The total biomass of trees in this tropical dry mixed evergreen forest was ranged from 160.02 to 250.8 Mg/ha, with a mean of 202.04±24.64 Mg/ha. Among the 62 tree species enumerated, Memecylon umbellatum accumulated greater biomass and carbon stocks (24.29%) more than the other species in the 10 ha study plots. ANOVA revealed that there existed a significant variation in the total biomass and carbon stock among the three plant types (Evergreen, brevi-deciduous and deciduous (F (2, 17)=15.343, p<0.001). Basal area and density was significant positively correlated with aboveground biomass (R² 0.980; 0.680) while species richness exhibited negative correlation with above ground biomass (R² 0.167). Finding of present study may be interpreted as most of the trees in this forest are yet to be matured and there is a net addition to standing biomass leading to carbon storage.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.330-338
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• 2023

To investigate the impact of forestry projects on the carbon stocks of forests, we estimated the carbon stock change of above-ground and soil before and after forestry projects using forest type maps, forestry project information, and soil information. First, we selected six map sheet with large areas and declining age class based on forest type map information. Then, we collected data such as forest type maps, growth coefficients, soil organic matter content, and soil bulk density of the estimated areas to calculate forest carbon storage. As a result, forest carbon stocks decreased by about 34.1~70.0% after forestry projects at all sites. In addition, compared to reference studies, domestic forest soils store less carbon than the above-ground, so it is judged that domestic forest soils have great potential to store more carbon and strategies to increase carbon storage are needed. It was estimated that the amount of carbon stored before forestry projects is about 1.5 times more than after forestry projects. The study estimated that it takes about 27 years for forests to recover to their pre-thinning carbon stocks following forestry projects. Since it takes a long time for forests to recover to their original carbon stocks once their carbon stocks are reduced by physical damage, it is necessary to plan to preserve them as much as possible, especially for highly conservative forests, so that they can maintain their carbon storage function.