바로가기메뉴

본문 바로가기 주메뉴 바로가기

logo

Temporal variation of ecosystem carbon pools along altitudinal gradient and slope: the case of Chilimo dry afromontane natural forest, Central Highlands of Ethiopia

Journal of Ecology and Environment / Journal of Ecology and Environment, (P)2287-8327; (E)2288-1220
2019, v.43 no.2, pp.161-182
https://doi.org/10.1186/s41610-019-0112-9
Mehari A. Tesfaye (Ethiopian Environment and Forest Research Institute)
Oliver Gardi (Bern University of Applied Sciences)
Tesfaye Bekele (Ethiopian Environment and Forestry Research Institute)
Jürgen Blaser (Bern University of Applied Sciences)
  • Downloaded
  • Viewed

Abstract

Quantifying the amount of carbon pools in forest ecosystems enables to understand about various carbon pools in the forest ecosystem. Therefore, this study was conducted in the Chilimo dry afromontane forest to estimate the amount of carbon stored. The natural forest was stratified into three forest patches based on species composition, diversity, and structure. A total of 50 permanent sample plots of 20m× 20m (400 m2) each were established, laid out on transects of altitudinal gradients with a distance of 100m between plots. The plots were measured twice in 2012 and 2017. Tree, deadwood, mineral soil, forest floor, and stump data were collected in the main plots, while shrubs, saplings, herbaceous plants, and seedling data were sampled inside subplots. Soil organic carbon (SOC %) was analyzed following Walkely, while Black’s procedure and bulk density were estimated following the procedure of Blake (Methods of soil analysis, 1965). Aboveground biomass was calculated using the equation of Chave et al. (Glob Chang Biol_20:3177–3190, 2014). Data analysis was made using RStudio software. To analyze equality of means, we used ANOVA for multiple comparisons among elevation classes at α = 0.05. The aboveground carbon of the natural forest ranged from 148.30 ± 115.02 for high altitude to 100.14 ± 39.93 for middle altitude, was highest at 151.35 ± 108.98 t C ha−1 for gentle slope, and was lowest at 88.01 ± 49.72 t C ha−1 for middle slope. The mean stump carbon density 2.33 ± 1.64 t C ha−1 was the highest for the middle slope, and 1.68 ± 1.21 t C ha− 1 was the lowest for the steep slope range. The highest 1.44 ± 2.21 t C ha−1 deadwood carbon density was found under the middle slope range, and the lowest 0.21 ± 0.20 t C ha−1 was found under the lowest slope range. The SOCD up to 1m depth was highest at 295.96 ± 80.45 t C ha− 1 under the middle altitudinal gradient; however, it was lowest at 206.40 ± 65.59 t C ha−1 under the lower altitudinal gradient. The mean ecosystem carbon stock density of the sampled plots in natural forests ranged from 221.89 to 819.44 t C ha−1. There was a temporal variation in carbon pools along environmental and social factors. The highest carbon pool was contributed by SOC. We recommend forest carbon-related awareness creation for local people, and promotion of the local knowledge can be regarded as a possible option for sustainable forest management.

keywords
Carbon stock density, Dry afromontane natural forest, Deadwood, Humus, Herbaceous, Mineral soil and stump carbon

Reference

1.

Adugna F, Teshome S, Mekuria A. Forest carbon stocks and variations along altitudinal gradients in Egdu forest: implications of managing forests for climate change mitigation. Sc Technol Art Res J. 2013;2(4):40–6.

2.

Anderson JM, Ingram JS. Tropical soils biology and fertility. A hand book of methods. 2nd ed. Wallingford: CAB, International; 1996.

3.

Ashagrie Y, Zech W, Guggenberg G. Transformation of Podocarpus falcatus dominated natural forest into a monoculture Eucalyptus globulus plantation at Munessa, Ethiopia. Soil organic C, N and S dynamics in primary particle and aggregate-size fractions. Agriculture, ecosystem & environment, vol. 106; 2005. p. 89–98.

4.

Baccini A, Laporte N, Goetz SJ, Sun M, Dong H. A first map of Africa’s above ground biomass derived from satellite imagery. Environ Res Lett. 2008;3: 045011. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/3/4/045011.

5.

Baker DF. Reassessing carbon sinks. Science. 2007;316:1708–9.

6.

Beets PN, Oliver GR, Clinton PW. Soil carbon protection in podocarp/hardwood forest and effects of conversion to pasture and exotic pine forest. Environ Pollut. 2002;116:S63–73 PMID: 11833919 (PubMed- Indexed for MEDLINE).

7.

Bekele M. Forest property rights, the role of the state and institutional exigency: the Ethiopian experience. Doctoral Thesis. Uppsala: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences; 2003.

8.

Bekele M. Forest property rights, the role of the state and institutional exigency: the Ethiopian experience. Doctoral Thesis. Uppsala: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences; 2004.

9.

Ben-Dar E, Banin A. Determination of organic matter in arid-zone soils using a simple loss-on-ignition method. Commun Soil Sci Plant Anal. 1989;20(15–16). https://doi.org/10.1080/100103622890936175.

10.

Berhangaray G, Alvare R, de Paepe J, Caride C, Cantet R. Land use effects on soil carbon in argentine pampas. Geoderma. 2013;192:97–110 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2012.07.016.

11.

Bhat J, Iqbal K, Kumar M, Negi A, Todaria N. Carbon stock of trees along an elevational gradient in temperate forests of Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary. For Sci Pract. 2013;15(2):137–43.

12.

Blake GR. Bulk density. In: Black CA, editor. Methods of soil analysis. Wisconsin: American Society of Agronomy; 1965. p. 374–90.

13.

Bongers F, Tenngkeit T. Degraded forests in Eastern Africa: introduction. In: Bongers F, Tenningkeit T, editors. Degraded forests in Eastern Africa: management and restoration. London: Earthscan Ltd; 2010. p. 1–18.

14.

Brown S. Estimating biomass and biomass changes of tropical forests: a primer: FAO forestry paper 134. United Nations, Rome: FAO; 1997.

15.

Brown SAJ, Gillespie JR, Lugo AE. Biomass estimation methods for tropical forests with application to Forest inventory data. For Sci. 1989;35(4):881–902.

16.

Chave J, Réjou-Méchain M, Búrquez A, Chidumayo E, Colgan MS, WBC D, Vieilleden G. Improved allometric models to estimate the aboveground biomass of tropical trees. Glob Chang Biol. 2014;20:3177–90. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.12629.

17.

Chave J, Rieâra B, Dubois M. Estimation of biomass in a neotropical forest of French Guiana: spatial and temporal variability. J Trop Ecol. 2001;17:79–96.

18.

Chidumayo E, Okali D, Kowero G, Lrwanou M. Climate change in African forest and wildlife resources. Nairobi: African Forest Forum; 2011.

19.

De Vos B, Vandecasteele D, Deckers J, Muys B. Capability of loss on ignition as a predictor of total organic carbon in non - calcareous forest soils. Commun Soil Sci Plan Anal. 2005;36:2899–921.

20.

Desalegn G, Abega M, Teketay D, Gezahgne A. Commercial timer species in Ethiopia: characteristics and uses-a handbook for forest industries, construction and energy sectors, foresters and other stakeholders. Addis Ababa: Addis Ababa University Press; 2012.

21.

Diawei L, Zongmin W, Bia Z, Kaishan S, Xiaoyan L, Jiaoyan L, Jiaping L, Fang L, Hongatao D. Spatial distribution of soil organic carbon and analysis of related factors in croplands of the black soil regions, Northeast China, agriculture, ecosystems and environment, vol. 113; 2006. p. 73–81.

22.

EMA. National atlas of Ethiopia. Addis Ababa: Ethiopian Mapping Authority; 1988. p. 76.

23.

FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations). Global forest resource assessment. FAO forestry paper 147. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; 2005.

24.

Gebre TM. Biomass and soil carbon stocks along elevation gradeints of woodland ecosystems. The case of Liben district, South Ethiopia: WGCF, Shashemene, Ethiopia; 2015. MSc Thesis

25.

Gibbs HK, Brown S, Niles JO, Foley JA. Monitoring and estimating tropical forest carbon stocks: making REDD a reality. Environ Res Lett. 2007;2:045023.

26.

Girma A, Soromessa T, Bekele T. Forest carbon stocks in woody plants of mount Zequalla Monastery and its variation along altitudinal gradient : implication of managing forests for climate change mitigation. Sci Technol Arts Res J. 2004;3(2):133–41.

27.

Girma A, Soromessa T, Bekele T. Forest carbon stocks in woody plants of mount Zequalla Monastery and its variation along altitudinal gradient: implication of managing forests for climate change mitigation. Sci Technol Arts Res J. 2014;3(2): 132–40.

28.

Hamere Y, Teshome S, Mekuria A. Carbon stock analysis along slope and slope aspect gradient in Gedo Forest : implications for climate change mitigation. J Earth Sci Clim Chang. 2015;6:9.

29.

Harms BP, Dalal RC, Cramp AP. Changes in soil carbon and soil nitrogen after tree clearing in the semi-arid range lands of Queensland. Aust J Bot. 2005;53: 639–50. https://doi.org/10.1071/BT04154.

30.

Hassen N. Carbon stock along altitudinal gradient in Gera Moist Evergreen Afromontane forest. MSc Thesis, AAU, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: South Western Ethiopia; 2015.

31.

Houghton RA. The annual net flux of carbon to the atmosphere from changes in land use 1850˗1990. Tellus B. 1998;51:298–313.

32.

IPCC. Good practice guidance for land-use change and forestry. In: Penman J, Gytarsky M, Hiraishi T, Krup T, Kruger D, Pipatti R, Buendia L, Miwa K, NigaraT TK, Wagner F, editors. IPCC, National Greenhouse Gas Inventories Program. Japan: Published by the Institute of Global Environmental Strategies (IGES); 2003.

33.

IPCC. In: Egsleston HS, Buendia L, Miwa K, Ngaran T, Tanabe K, editors. Guidelines for national greenhouse gas inventories (vol 4, AFOLU). National Greenhouse Gas Inventories Program. Japan: Published; IGES; 2006.

34.

IPCC. Climate change 2007: mitigation of climate change. In: Metz B, Davidson OR, Bosch PR, Dave R, Meyer LA, editors. Contribution of working group III to the 4th assessment report of the intergovernmental panel on climate change. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 2007. p. 851.

35.

IPCC. In: Stocker TF, Qin D, Plattner G-K, Tignor M, Allen SK, Boschung J, Nauels A, Xia Y, Bex V, Midgley PM, editors. Climate change 2013: the physical science basis. contribution of working group I to the 5th assessment report of the intergovernmental panel on climate change. United Kingdom and New York: Cambridge University Press, Cambridge; 2013. p. 1535. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781107415324.

36.

Iticha B. Ecosystem carbon storage and partitioning in Chato afromontane forest. Its climate change mitigation and economic potential. Int J Environ Agric Biotechnol. 2017;2(4):2450–1878.

37.

Kangas A, Maltamo M. Forest inventory methodology and applications : managing forest ecosystems 10. Dordrecht: Springer; 2006.

38.

Kassa AG (2015) Forest carbon stock and variations along environmental gradients in Yeka forest and its implication for climate change mitigation. MSC Thesis, AAU, Graduate progarmme.

39.

Kassa H, Campbell B, Sandewall M, Kebede K, Tesfaye Y, Dessie G, Seifu A, Tadesse M, Garedewe E, Sandwall K. Building future scenarios and covering persisting challenges of participatory forest management in Chilimo forest, Central Ethiopia. J Environ Manag. 2008. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenuman.2008.03.2009.

40.

Kassahun K, Soromessa T, Belliethathan S. Forest carbon stock in woody plants of Ades Forest, Western Haraghae zone of Ethiopia and its variation along environmental factors: implications for climate change mitigation. J Nat Sci Res. 2015;5(21) www.iiste.org.

41.

Kelbessa E, Soromessa T. Biodiversity, ecological and regeneration studies in Bonga, Borana and Chilimo forests. Technical report prepared for Farm Africa-SoS-Sahel. Addis Ababa: Addis Ababa University; 2004.

42.

Köhl M, Magnussen SS, Marchett M. Sampling methods, remote sensing and GIS multi resource forest inventory. Berlin Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag; 2006.

43.

Lal R. Soil carbon sequestration to mitigate climate change. Geoderma. 2004;123:1–22.

44.

Lal R. Forest soils and carbon sequestration. For Ecol Manage. 2005;220(1˗3):242–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2005.08.015.

45.

Lamprecht H. Silviculture in the tropics. Tropical forest ecosystems and their tree species-possiblities and methods for their long term utilization. Eschborn: Technical Cooperation-Federal Republic of Germany; 1989.

46.

Lasco RD, MacDicken KG, Pulhin FB, Guillermo IQ, Sales RF, Cruz RVO. Carbon stocks assessment of a selectively logged dipterocarp forest and wood processing mill in the Philippines. J Trop For Sci. 2006;18:212–21.

47.

Lemenih M, Itanna F. Soil carbon stocks and turnovers in various vegetation types and arable lands along elevation gradients in Southern Ethiopia. Geoderma. 2004;123:177–88 http: //dx.doi.org/10.1016/j. geoderma. 2004. 02. 004.

48.

Lemma B, Kleja DB, Olsson M, Nillsson I. Factors controlling soil organic carbon sequestration under exotic tree plantations. A case study using CO2Fix model in Southwestern Ethiopia. For Model Ecol Manage. 2007;252(1–3):124–31.

49.

Lewis SL, Lopez-Gonzalez G, Sonke B, Affum-Baffoe K, Baker TR. Increasing carbon storage in intact African tropical forests. Nature. 2009:457 https://doi.org/10.1038/nature07771.

50.

Mayaux P, Holmgren P, Achard F, Eva H, Stibig HJ, Branthomme A. Tropical forest covers change in the 1990s and options for future monitoring. Philos Trans R Soc B. 2007;360:373–84.

51.

Meles BW, Kelbessa E, Soromessa T. Forest carbon stocks in woody plants of Arba Minch ground water forest and its variations along environmental gradients. Sci Technol Arts Res J. 2014;3(2):141–7.

52.

Miles L, Newton AC, De Fries RS, Ravilious C, May I, Blyth S, Kapos V, Gordon JE. A global overview of the conservation status of tropical dry forests. J Biogeogr. 2006;33:491–505.

53.

Millennium Ecosystem Assessments. Millennium ecosystem, ecosystem and human well - being: desertification synthesis report 2002. Washington, DC: World Resources Institute; 2005. http://www.millenniumassessment.org/documents/document.355.aspx.pdf.

54.

Moges Y, Eshetu Z, Nune S. Ethiopian forest resources: status and future management options in view of access to carbon finances. Ethiopian climate research and networking report. Addis Ababa: UNDP; 2010.

55.

Negassa A, Wiersum KF. Community perspectives on participatory forest management. The case of Chilimo participatory forest management scheme in Ethiopia. Ethiop J Nat Resour. 2006;8(1):57–75.

56.

Nicholas P, Saint-André L, Henry M. Manual for building tree volume and biomass allometric equations, from field measurement to prediction. Rome, CIRAD, Montpellier: FAO; 2012. p. 215.

57.

Pearson T, Brown S, Birdsey R. Measurement guidelines for the sequestration of forest carbon. Washington, DC: Northern Research Station, Department of Agriculture; 2007.

58.

Pearson T, Walker S, Brown S. Source book for land use, land-use change and forestry projects; 2005.

59.

Ponce-Hernandez R. Assessing carbon stocks and modeling win–win scenarios of carbon sequestration through land-use changes. Rome: FAO, UN; 2004.

60.

Post WM, Izaurralde RC, Mann LK, Bliss N. Monitoring and verifying changes of organic carbon in soil. Clim Chang. 2001;51:73–99.

61.

Pribyl DW. A critical review of the conventional SOC to SOM conversion factor. Geoderma. 2010;156:75–83.

62.

R-Development Core Team. R: a language and environment for statistical computing. Vienna: R Foundation for Statistical Computing; 2017. ISBN 3˗900051˗ 07˗ 0, URL http://www.R-project.org/.

63.

Rhoades CC, Eckert GE, Coleman DC. Soil carbon differences among forest, agriculture and secondary vegetation in lower montane Ecuador. Ecol Appl. 2000;10:497–505.

64.

Ruiz-Peinado R, Bravo-Oviedo A, Senespleda López-Senespleda E, Montero G, Río M. Do thinning influence biomass and soil carbon stocks in Mediterranean Maritime pine wood? 2013.

65.

Sheikh K, Bussmann RW. Altitudinal variation in soil organic carbon stock in coniferous sub tropical and broadleaf temperate forests in Garhwal Himalaya. Carbon Balance Manag. 2009;4:6 http://www.cbmjournal.com/content/4/1/6.

66.

Shumi G. The structure and regeneration status of tree and shrub species of Chilimo forest-ecological sustainability indicators for participatory forest management (PFM) in Oromia, Ethiopia. MSc Thesis. Germany: University of Dresden; 2009.

67.

Silver WL, Ostertag R, Lugo AE. The potential for carbon sequestration through reforestation of abandoned tropical agricultural and pasture lands. Soc Ecol Restor. 2000;8:394–407.

68.

Sisay N. Land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF): afforestation and reforestation. In: Clean development mechanisms investor’s Guide. Addis Ababa: DNA office the Environment Protection Authority, EPA; 2010.

69.

Solomon D, Fritsch F, Lehmann J, Tekalign M, Zech W. Soil organic matter dynamics in the sub-humid agro ecological systems of the Ethiopian highlands: evidence from 13C abundance and particle size fractionation. Soil Sci Soc Am J. 2002;66:969–78.

70.

Soromessa T, Kelbessa E. Interplay of regeneration, structure and use of some woody species in Chilimo forest, Central Ethiopia. Sci Technol Arts Res J. 2014;3(1):90–100 https://doi.org/10.4314/star.v4i1.34.Vol (3): 1˗15.

71.

Swai G, Ndangalasi H, Munishi P, Shirima D. Carbon stocks of Hanang forest, Tanzania: an implication for climate mitigation. J Ecol Nat Environ. 2014;6(3):90–8.

72.

Takahashi M, Ishizoka S, Ugawa S, Sakai Y, Sakai H, Ond K, Hashimoto S, Matsuura U, Marisada K. Carbon stock in litter and deadwood and soil in Japan’s forest sector and its comparison with carbon stock in agricultural soils. Soil Sci Plant Nutr. 2010;56:19–30.

73.

Temam A. Impact of disturbance on carbon stocks in HaranaBulluk natural forests, Bale Zone, SW Ethiopia. MSc Thesis. Shashemene: Wondogenet College of Forestry; 2010.

74.

Tesfaye AM. Forest management options for carbon stock and soil rehabilitation in Chilimo dry afromontane forest, Ethiopia. PhD Thesis. Palencia: INIA- Palencia, University of Valladolid; 2015.

75.

Tesfaye MA, Bravo F, Ruiz-Peinado R, Pando V, Bravo-Oviedo A. Impact of Changes in land use, species and elevation on soil organic carbon and total nitrogen in Ethiopian Central Highlands. Geoderma. 2016;261:70–9 0016–7061/© 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

76.

Teshome M. Progress report of natural forest research division: Addis Ababa; 2017.

77.

Tsegaye T (2010) Bale eco-region sustainable management programme. http://www.pfmpfarmsos.org/publication.html.

78.

Twongyirwe R, Sheil D, Majaliwa JGM, Ebanyat P, Tenywa MM, Van Heist M, Kumar L. Variability of soil organic carbon stocks under different land uses: a study in an afromontane landscape in South-Western Uganda. Geoderma. 2013:193–4 282˗289. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.Geoderma.2012.09.005.

79.

Wodajo A. Variation in carbon stock along environmental gradients in Gara–Muktar Forest, West Herargae Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Dire Dawa: MSC Thesis, Haromaya University; 2018.

80.

Woldemariam TG. Diversity of woody plants and avifauna in a dry afro-montane forest : on the central plateau of Ethiopia. Skinnskatteberg: MSc Thesis, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences; 1998.

81.

Yahya. Carbon stock along altitudinal gradient of araba Gugu dry afromontane forest. Switzerlands: MSC Thesis, HAFl; 2015.

82.

Yelemfrhat T, Soromessa T, Bayable E. Forest carbon stocks in lowland area of Semien Mountains National Park: implication for climate change mitigation. Sci Technol Arts Res J. 2014;3(3):29–36.

83.

Zanne A, Lopez-Gonzalez G, Coomes D, Ilic J, Jansen S, Lewis L, Miller B, Swenson G, Wiemann C, Chave J (2009) Global wood density database [http://hdl.handle.net/10255/dryad.235].

84.

Zewdu E, Giesler R, H greb P. Historical land use pattern affects the chemistry of forest soils in the Ethiopian Highlands. Geoderma. 2004;118:149–65 https://doi.org/10.1016/S00016-7061(03)00190-3.

85.

Zinn YL, Resch DS, Silva JE. Soil organic carbon as affected with Eucalyptus and Pinus in the Cerrado Region of Brazil. For Ecol Manage. 2002;166:285–94 PII: S0378-1127 (00) 00682 - X.

Journal of Ecology and Environment