Assessment of Above and Belowground Carbon Storage along altitudinal gradient in Baja Natural Forest, Chora District, Southwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Forest plays an important role in the global carbon cycle as carbon sinks of the terrestrial ecosystem. Carbon stock estimation enables us to understand carbon stocks' current status and derive its near-future changes. This study was carried out to assess the carbon pool of the Baja Natural forest along altitudinal gradients in Chora Woreda, Southwest Ethiopia. The sampling sites were selected by dropping a regular interval of 25 m elevation gradient. From each sampling site, three quadrats 25 m apart from each other were established. A total of 48 rectangular plots of 20 m x 50 m were used to collect tree biomass data. Within these plots, three 1m2 subplots at the diagonal line of the subplots were used to collect soil and litter. The soil carbon was determined using the Walkley -Black loss on ignition method. The mean total carbon density of the forest was 374.45 ton ha-1. This is equivalent to 1374.23 t ha-1 of CO2. The mean carbon stocks at the middle altitude (428.66 ton ha-1) were estimated as greater in all carbon pools. The carbon density of the Baja Natural forest can be considered medium when compared with other studies done elsewhere in the tropics. So the study highlights that middle altitude areas store more carbon than lower and higher altitudes, and that the forest's litter biomass plays a crucial role in overall carbon dynamics. The findings underscore the importance of preserving such forests for their biodiversity conservation and carbon sequestration potential, which are vital for mitigating climate change.