Different plant species have different capacity of carbon sequestration but it is not assessed yet in Nepal. Therefore, this study was done to assess the species-wise carbon sequestration in two periods in forests. Three collaborative and three community forests were selected for the study. The selected forests were surveyed using GPS and mapped and stratified into tree, pole, and regeneration. Specifically 32, 33, and 31 samples were collected from Banke-Maraha, Tuteshwarnath, and Gadhanta-Bardibash collaborative forests, respectively, while 30, 25, and 22 samples were collected from Chureparwati, Buddha, and Chyandanda community forests correspondingly. The sample plots were of 25 m
There is no land on Earth where plants do not exist [
Burden of deforestation and forest degradation is still very much challenging the living beings on Earth due to the increased production of greenhouse gases (GHGs) especially CO2 [
Different plant species have different capacity to sequestrate carbon during photosynthesis. Generally slow growing species have slow sequestration rate than others. Species like
As this study deals with the tropical and subtropical plant species, Mahottari District of Terai region of Nepal that possesses tropical and subtropical plant species was selected as the study site. Three collaborative forests (CFMs), namely, Banke-Maraha (2,006 ha), Gadhanta-Bardibash (1,450 ha), and Tuteshwarnath (1,334 ha), and three community forests (CFs), namely, Chure Parwati (441.7 ha), Buddha (69.73 ha), and Chyandanda (41.35 ha) forests, were randomly selected (Figure
Map of study area.
The research experiment and sampling methods are the most important part of a study. For this study, randomized block design (RBD) was set up and stratified random sampling was employed to collect data from forests [
Biophysical data were collected from the field. So, the next step was to determine the adequate number of sample plots statistically. Pilot sampling was carried out in order to determine the number of sample plots based on statistical variability. For this purpose 10 samples were collected as presample of each stratum of collaborative and community forests at the beginning of the field work. After that, the records of diameter at breast height and height were taken and biomass was calculated which were used to find the adequate number of sample plots for each stratum. A total of 176 samples were collected out of which 32, 33, and 31 samples were collected from Banke-Maraha, Tuteshwarnath, and Gadhanta-Bardibash CFMs, respectively, while 30, 25, and 22 samples were collected from Chureparwati, Buddha, and Chyandanda community forests. Permanent sample plots were established using GPS receiver [
The data analysis included the determination of carbon stock, current annual carbon increment (CACI), and CO2 sequestration.
Biomass calculation is the first estimation step to assess the carbon stock. Hence, the species-wise Above Ground Tree Dry Biomass (AGTB) was calculated using the biomass equation for samples with DBH > 5 cm [
Species-wise carbon stock change is as follows: C = carbon stock Current annual carbon increment (CACI) = carbon stock CO2 sequestration =
The annual average carbon sequestration per ha for two years in each of the collaborative and community forests was compared using
The carbon change varied in different species in the collaborative and community forests. The carbon stock was found to be the highest in
Species carbon stock in collaborative and community forests.
Species | Banke-Maraha CFM | Tuteshwarnath CFM | Gadhanta-Bardibash CFM | Chure-Parwati CF | Buddha CF | Chyandanda CF | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
C stock t ha−1 in yr | C stock t ha−1 in yr | C stock t ha−1 in yr | C stock t ha−1 in yr | C stock t ha−1 in yr | C stock t ha−1 in yr | |||||||||||||
2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | |
| 35.93 | 34.43 | 32.02 | 44.87 | 45.52 | 46.02 | 50.4 | 50.98 | 51.48 | 26.59 | 27.24 | 27.76 | 28.33 | 29.2 | 29.75 | 7.97 | 8.92 | 10.29 |
| 25.5 | 25.55 | 25.1 | 34.49 | 34.54 | 34.54 | 36.8 | 36.96 | 37.16 | 20 | 20.13 | 20.56 | 17.7 | 18 | 18.83 | 4.63 | 5.06 | 5.79 |
| 11.37 | 11.43 | 11.5 | 18.72 | 18.78 | 18.78 | 19.9 | 19.9 | 20.1 | 11.66 | 11.71 | 11.86 | 12.75 | 12.9 | 13.35 | 2.59 | 2.8 | 3.15 |
| 3.27 | 3.28 | 3.29 | 2.44 | 2.45 | 2.45 | 1.87 | 1.89 | 1.96 | 1.39 | 1.39 | 1.39 | 0.65 | 0.65 | 0.65 | 0.64 | 0.64 | 0.74 |
| 9.8 | 9.82 | 9.84 | 11.28 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 15.4 | 15.45 | 15.45 | 9.11 | 9.11 | 9.11 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 2.07 | 2.47 | 2.57 |
| 0.84 | 0.69 | 0.84 | 0.68 | 0.39 | 0.41 | 0.45 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.44 | 0.51 | 0.71 | 1.15 | 1.22 | 1.42 | 0.36 | 0.43 | 0.47 |
| 2.55 | 2.6 | 2.65 | 0.87 | 0.92 | 0.57 | 2.36 | 0.91 | 0.37 | 0.7 | 0.56 | 0.36 | 1 | 0.86 | 0.46 | 0.29 | 0.19 | 0.14 |
| 7.4 | 7.44 | 7.48 | 10.14 | 10.14 | 10.14 | 13.7 | 13.66 | 13.41 | 6.89 | 6.97 | 6.82 | 6.17 | 6.25 | 6..00 | 0.92 | 0.94 | 0.94 |
| 0.32 | 0.35 | 0.38 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.44 | 0.59 | 0.7 | 0.71 | 0.26 | 0.3 | 0.31 | 1.9 | 1.94 | 1.95 | 0.15 | 0.19 | 0.2 |
| 0.16 | 0.18 | 0.2 | 2.26 | 2.28 | 2.28 | 7.34 | 7.35 | 7.35 | 3.26 | 3.28 | 3.28 | 1.91 | 1.93 | 1.93 | 0.79 | 0.81 | 0.872 |
| 0.15 | 0.16 | 0.17 | 0.21 | 0.22 | 0.22 | 0.15 | 0.15 | 0.15 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.07 | 0.07 | 0.07 | 0.06 | 0.06 | 0.06 |
| 4.37 | 4.52 | 4.67 | 1.83 | 1.83 | 1.86 | 7.54 | 7.54 | 7.55 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.11 | 3.03 | 3.03 | 3.04 | 0.65 | 0.65 | 0.66 |
| 0.2 | 0.25 | 0.3 | 0.23 | 0.25 | 0.26 | 0.88 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.11 | 0.11 | 0.11 | 0.21 | 0.21 | 0.21 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| 0.07 | 0.09 | 0.11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.17 | 0.19 | 0.22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.48 | 0.52 | 0.55 | 0.24 | 0.24 | 0 |
| 0.07 | 0.08 | 0.09 | 0.07 | 0.08 | 0.08 | 0.07 | 0.07 | 0.07 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.05 |
| 0.13 | 0.2 | 0.27 | 1.27 | 1.34 | 1.39 | 3.87 | 3.97 | 4.47 | 2.81 | 2.91 | 3.41 | 0.56 | 0.66 | 1.16 | 0.17 | 0.27 | 0.27 |
| 3.42 | 3.45 | 3.48 | 1.47 | 1.47 | 1.47 | 5.35 | 5.36 | 5.36 | 2.78 | 2.78 | 2.78 | 1.62 | 1.62 | 1.62 | 0.47 | 0.47 | 0.47 |
| 1.65 | 1.66 | 1.67 | 2.13 | 2.14 | 2.18 | 4.06 | 4.61 | 4.65 | 1.23 | 1.26 | 1.30 | 0.34 | 0.37 | 0.41 | 0.58 | 0.61 | 0.65 |
| 0.62 | 0.67 | 0.72 | 0.12 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.14 | 0.14 | 0.14 | 0.06 | 0.06 | 0.06 | 0.12 | 0.12 | 0.12 |
| 0.83 | 0.85 | 0.87 | 0.43 | 0.45 | 0.45 | 0.23 | 0.23 | 0.23 | 0.12 | 0.12 | 0.12 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.27 | 0.27 | 0.27 |
| 0.12 | 0.15 | 0.18 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.02 |
| 0.28 | 0.29 | 0.18 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.05 | 0.06 | 0.06 | 0.09 | 0.08 | 0.08 | 0.11 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.03 |
| 0.28 | 0.39 | 0.5 | 0.02 | 0.03 | 0.06 | 0.37 | 0.42 | 0.48 | 0.17 | 0.22 | 0.28 | 0.1 | 0.15 | 0.21 | 0.02 | 0.07 | 0.13 |
| 0.02 | 0.03 | 0.04 | 0.02 | 0.03 | 0.05 | 0.02 | 0.03 | 0.05 | 0.02 | 0.06 | 0.08 | 0.1 | 0.14 | 0.16 | 0.02 | 0.06 | 0.08 |
| 0.13 | 0.15 | 0.17 | 0.24 | 0.24 | 0.24 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.21 | 0.25 | 0.25 | 0.02 | 0 | 0 |
| 0.06 | 0.07 | 0.08 | 0.79 | 0.79 | 0.79 | 0.49 | 0.49 | 0.5 | 0.52 | 0.56 | 0.57 | 0.9 | 0.94 | 0.95 | 0.52 | 0.56 | 0.57 |
| 0.09 | 0.11 | 0.13 | 0.09 | 0.09 | 0.09 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.05 |
| 0.02 | 0.03 | 0.04 | 0.02 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.04 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.06 | 0.06 | 0.06 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.02 |
| 0.36 | 0.61 | 0.86 | 0.18 | 0.26 | 0.3 | 1.21 | 1.36 | 1.36 | 0.77 | 0.87 | 0.97 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 0.13 | 0.18 | 0.23 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.14 | 0.14 | 0.14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Carbon sequestration in dominant species was higher than the other associate species. Carbon sequestration was the highest (5.02 t ha−1 per annum) in
CO2 sequestration (t ha−1) in collaborative and community forests.
Species | CO2 sequestration (t ha−1) in collaborative and community forests | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Forest types | Banke-Maraha CFM | Tuteshwarnath CFM | Gadhanta-Bardibash CFM | Chure Parwati CF | Buddha CF | Chyandanda CF | ||||||
Year | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| −5.5 | −8.87 | 2.38 | 1.83 | 2.02 | 1.83 | 2.38 | 1.91 | 3.3 | 1.91 | 3.48 | 5.02 |
| 0.18 | −1.72 | 0.18 | 0 | 0.62 | 0.73 | 0.48 | 1.58 | 1.1 | 3.04 | 1.58 | 2.68 |
| 0.22 | 0.26 | 0.22 | 0 | 0.11 | 0.73 | 0.18 | 0.55 | 0.37 | 1.83 | 0.77 | 1.28 |
| 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0 | 0.07 | 0.26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.37 |
| 0.07 | 0.07 | 0.07 | 0 | 0.18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.47 | 0.37 |
| −0.55 | 0.55 | −1.06 | 0.07 | 0.18 | 0 | 0.26 | 0.73 | 0.26 | 0.73 | 0.26 | 0.15 |
| 0.18 | 0.18 | 0.18 | −1.28 | −5.32 | −1.98 | −0.51 | −0.73 | −0.51 | −1.47 | −0.37 | −0.18 |
| 0.15 | 0.15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −0.92 | 0.29 | −0.55 | 0.29 | −0.92 | 0.07 | 0 |
| 0.11 | 0.11 | 0 | 0.15 | 0.4 | 0.04 | 0.15 | 0.04 | 0.15 | 0.04 | 0.15 | 0.04 |
| 0.07 | 0.07 | 0.07 | 0 | 0.04 | 0 | 0.07 | 0 | 0.07 | 0 | 0.07 | 0.23 |
| 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 0.55 | 0.55 | 0 | 0.11 | 0 | 0.04 | 0 | 0.04 | 0 | 0.04 | 0 | 0.04 |
| 0.18 | 0.18 | 0.07 | 0.04 | 0.07 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 0.07 | 0.07 | 0 | 0 | 0.07 | 0.11 | 0 | 0 | 0.15 | 0.11 | 0 | −0.88 |
| 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 0.26 | 0.26 | 0.26 | 0.18 | 0.37 | 1.83 | 0.37 | 1.83 | 0.37 | 1.83 | 0.37 | 0 |
| 0.11 | 0.11 | 0 | 0 | 0.04 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.15 | 2.02 | 0.15 | 0.11 | 0.15 | 0.11 | 0.15 | 0.11 | 0.15 |
| 0.18 | 0.18 | 0.04 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 0.07 | 0.07 | 0.07 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 0.11 | 0.11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 0.04 | −0.4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.11 | 0 | 0.11 | 0 | 0.11 | 0 | 0 |
| 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.04 | 0.11 | 0.18 | 0.22 | 0.19 | 0.22 | 0.19 | 0.22 | 0.19 | 0.22 |
| 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.07 | 0.04 | 0.07 | 0.15 | 0.07 | 0.15 | 0.07 | 0.15 | 0.07 |
| 0.07 | 0.07 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.15 | 0 | −0.07 | 0 |
| 0.04 | 0.04 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.04 | 0.15 | 0.04 | 0.15 | 0.04 | 0.15 | 0.04 |
| 0.07 | 0.07 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 0.92 | 0.92 | 0.29 | 0.15 | 0.55 | 0 | 0.37 | 0.37 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 0.18 | 0.18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
As shown in Table
Statistical comparison of carbon sequestration.
Species | Banke-Maraha CFM | Tuteshwarnath CFM | Gadhanta-Bardibash CFM | Chure Parwati CF | Buddha CF | Chyandanda CF |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Test applied | | | ||||
| 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.035 | 0.002 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
Obviously the carbon sequestration of dominant species in the forest was higher. So carbon sequestration rate was recorded higher in
The carbon sequestration varied annually and according to plant species.
This paper is original and not published before and not submitted in any other journals.
There is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.
Mr. Utsab Thapa and Mr. Ram Asheshwar Mandal prepared the draft of the paper and Professors Pramod Kumar Jha, Ishwar Chandra Dutta, and Siddhi Bir Karmacharya arranged the results according to research objectives and finalized it.
The authors acknowledge chairmen and members of the concerned collaborative and community forests. Specifically the authors sincerely acknowledge Mr. Ragunath Prashad Yadav, chairperson of Banke-Maraha collaborative forest, Mr. Shree Prashad Singh, Mr. Vijay Yadav, and Mr. M. Ranjana Shrestha. The fieldwork was probably impossible without their support.