article · Carbon Balance and Management
Ethiopia lacks comprehensive carbon inventories and databanks to monitor forest carbon sequestration potential, with limited micro-level assessments conducted to date. An investigation into the Gerba-Dima moist Afromontane forest in south-western Ethiopia established carbon stock levels across ninety stratified sample plots using nested sampling techniques. Biomass was measured across tree diameter categories, along with herbs, litter, and soil organic carbon. The forest showed a mean total carbon stock density of 508.9 tonnes of carbon per hectare. Of this total, aboveground biomass held 243.8 tonnes per hectare, soil organic carbon accounted for 219.1 tonnes per hectare, belowground biomass represented 45.97 tonnes per hectare, and litter contributed 0.03 tonnes per hectare. These substantial reserves highlight the forest capacity for climate change mitigation and underline the value of conservation initiatives linked to international carbon finance mechanisms.
Establishing baseline carbon measurements in Afromontane forests provides vital evidence for climate change mitigation. Quantifying exact carbon distribution across biomass and soil pools helps policymakers and environmental managers demonstrate ecological value, support targeted conservation measures, and substantiate claims for international carbon finance initiatives.
This baseline inventory data can be used by conservation managers, local authorities, and national policymakers seeking access to biocarbon funds and carbon finance programmes. While the research demonstrates high carbon storage density, it represents early-stage baseline measurement rather than an operational carbon trading product, requiring policy integration and conservation programme implementation before carbon finance can be realised.
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Unlike in the developed countries, Ethiopia does not have carbon inventories and databank to monitor and enhance carbon sequestration potential of different forests. Only small efforts have been made so far to assess the biomass and soil carbon sequestration at micro-level. This study was carried out to obtain sufficient information about the carbon stock potential of Gerba-Dima forest in south-western Ethiopia. A total of 90 sample plots were laid by employing stratified random sampling. Nested plots were used to collect data of the four carbon pools. For trees with a diameter range of 5 cm < diameter < 20 cm, the carbon stock was assessed from a plot size of 49 m2 (7 m * 7 m). For trees with a diameter range of 20 cm < diameter < 50 cm, the carbon stock was assessed from a plot size of 625 m2 (25 m * 25 m). For trees > 50 cm diameter, an additional larger sample of 35 * 35 m2 was used. Litter, herb and soil data were collected from 1 m2 subplot established at the center of each nested plot. To compute the above ground biomass carbon stock of trees and shrubs with DBH > 5 cm, their DBH and height were measured. The biomass carbon assessment of woody species having DBH < 5 cm, litter and herb were conducted by measuring their fresh weight in the field and dry weight in the laboratory. The mean total carbon stock density of Gerba-Dima forest was found to be 508.9 tons carbon ha−1, out of which 243.8, 45.97, 0.03 and 219.1 tons carbon ha−1 were stored in the above ground biomass, below ground biomass, litter biomass and soil organic carbon, respectively. The existence of high carbon stock in the study forest shows the potential of the area for climate change mitigation. Thus, all stakeholders at the local and national level should work together to implement effective conservation measures and get benefit from the biocarbon fund.
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DOI: 10.1186/s13021-019-0116-x
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