article · Carbon Balance and Management
Ethiopia includes bamboo in its national REDD+ and Clean Development Mechanism programmes due to its potential as a carbon sink, yet empirical measurements of its carbon stocks remain limited. An ecological inventory across 54 sample plots in the Assitsa and Eddida forests of the Lower Beles River Basin evaluated the storage capacity of Oxytenanthera abyssinica stands. Biomass was derived from allometric equations based on diameter and age, while soil organic carbon was sampled at two depths up to 30 centimetres. The forest biomass averaged 177.1 megagrams per hectare, yielding an average biomass carbon stock of 83.2 megagrams of carbon per hectare. When combined with soil organic carbon stocks averaging 70 megagrams per hectare, the total mean carbon stock reached 152.5 megagrams of carbon per hectare, confirming substantial sequestration capacity.
Understanding the carbon storage capacity of indigenous bamboo provides quantitative baseline data necessary for climate change mitigation initiatives. As nations integrate natural vegetation into international carbon frameworks such as REDD+ and the Clean Development Mechanism, accurate local measurements ensure that bamboo ecosystems are recognised and managed effectively to enhance environmental services and contribute to national carbon emission targets.
The findings deliver field-tested baseline data relevant to developers and administrators of REDD+ and Clean Development Mechanism carbon accounting programmes. Forestry managers, conservation organisations, and carbon credit certifiers can use these metrics to quantify the sequestration value of bamboo ecosystems. As applied research providing direct ecological measurements, commercial utilisation requires formal integration into certified carbon offset methodologies and monitored forest management programmes.
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Abstract Background Given the large bamboo resource base with considerable potential to act as an important carbon sink, Ethiopia has included bamboo in the national Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation and enhancing forest carbon stocks (REDD+) and Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM) programs. However, little is known about the carbon stock and sequestration potential of bamboo forests. As a result, this research was conducted to quantify the carbon sequestration and storage capacity of Oxytenanthera abyssinica forests in the Lower Beles River Basin, northwestern Ethiopia. To this end, a total of 54 circular plots, each measuring 100 m 2 with a radius of 5.64 m, were established to conduct the inventory in Assitsa and Eddida bamboo forests, the typical bamboo sites in Lower Beles River Basin. Biomass accumulation of bamboo was estimated using an allometric equation based on diameter at breast height (DBH) and age. Soil samples were taken from two different soil depths (0–15 and 15–30 cm) to determine soil organic carbon. Results Results indicate that the mean biomass of the bamboo forests in the study area accounted for about 177.1 $$\pm$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mo>±</mml:mo></mml:math> 3.1 Mg ha −1 . The mean biomass carbon and soil organic carbon stock of the bamboo forests were 83.2 $$\pm$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mo>±</mml:mo></mml:math> 1.5 Mg C ha −1 and 70 $$\pm$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mo>±</mml:mo></mml:math> 1.7 Mg C ha −1 , respectively. Therefore, the mean carbon stock of the O. abyssinica bamboo forests was 152.5 $$\pm$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mo>±</mml:mo></mml:math> 2.5 Mg C ha −1 to 559.8 $$\pm$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mo>±</mml:mo></mml:math> 9.0 ton CO 2 ha −1 . Conclusion This study highlights the importance of assessing bamboo’s carbon stock and sequestration potential for enhancing its role in climate change mitigation and sustainable resource management. The O. abyssinica bamboo forests of the study area have significant carbon stock and sequestration potential. Therefore, sustainable management of these crucial vegetation resources will enhance their role in providing ecosystem services, including climate change mitigation.
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DOI: 10.1186/s13021-021-00192-5
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