Abstract
Nowadays carbon stock estimation has gained greater attention for environmental and economical (carbon market) perspectives. Forest plays an important role in climate change mitigation through sequestering and storing carbon from the atmosphere. Carbon stock estimation enables us to understand the current status of carbon stocks and to deduce its changes in the future.
However, studies on carbon stock and factors that affect carbon stock have not been well studied. Hence, the aim of this study was to estimate the carbon stock of the Sekele-Mariam dry Afromontane forest, North Western Ethiopia. Systematic random sampling was employed to collect densitometric data (DBH and height), litter, and soil. A total of 60 plots with 50m *50m size each with nested plot (1m*1m) size for litter and soil data collection were laid on the transect line. Diameter at breast height of trees with diameter ≥ 5cm and height was measured. Carbon stock was estimated using allometric equations and soil organic carbon was analyzed in the laboratory following the Walkley Black method. The result of this study revealed that the Sekele-Mariam forest had stored a total of 185.71-ton carbon/ha within its aboveground, belowground, litter biomasses, and soil. The higher carbon stock in all carbon pools was found at the higher altitudinal range (2395-2460 m a.s.l.). The variation of carbon pools between the altitudinal gradient was not significant. Sekele-Mariam forest had a smaller stock of carbon in its biomass and therefore, better forest conservation and management are the best strategies to enhance the carbon stock potential of the study area.
Key Words: Biomass carbon stock, Carbon sequestration, Climate change, Soil organic Carbon, Sekele-Mariam forest
