Article InformationCarbon sequestration through forestry has the potential to play a significant role in ameliorating global environmental problems such as atmospheric accumulation of GHG's and climate change.The present study was undertaken to estimate forest carbon stock along altitudinal gradient in Mount Zequalla Monastery forest. Systematic sampling methods were used to collect data from seventy 10 m x 20 m rectangular plots. The area was dominated by Juniperusprocera tree species. The mean carbon stock per hectare was 237.2, 47.6, 6.5 and 57.6 ton for above ground biomass, below ground biomass, litter biomass and soil respectively. The mean total carbon stock in Mount Zequalla Forest was 348.8 t ha-1 . The statistical analysis for carbon stock variation in the different carbon pools through altitudinal gradient showed a significant variation with exception for soil organic carbon stock. The amount of carbon stock in above and below ground biomass showed increasing pattern with increasing altitude whereas litter and soil organic carbon stocks showed decreasing pattern with increasing altitude.Overall this study points out Mount ZequallaMonastery forest has the potential to sequester plenty of CO2 with a considerable variation along altitude. Thus, it has paramount importance to give conservation priority to the forests to achieve climate change mitigation aspiration especially through forest carbon sequestration mechanism.

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Ethiopia is losing a significant cover of natural forest every day owing to deforestation, yet surprisingly little field-based information exists on the ecological requirements and silvicultural strategies for the majority of the native species, which could be translated into plans for conservation and restoration. Munessa Dry afromontane forest is heavily degraded and characterized by many gaps. It has been disturbed by illegal logging and expansion for subsistence farming. What remains is a fragmented and overlogged forest. A study was conducted in Munessa Dry afromontane forest to evaluate the contribution of silvicultural options for sustainable management and conservation of forest resources in the highlands of Ethiopia. Under the project, the growth and photosynthesis response of four native tree species seedlings under a variable light environment in a gap were analyzed. The different species exhibited different survival strategies in forest understorey and open environment. Planting in the gap centre resulted in high light intensities, allowing a significantly higher increase in root collar diameter and height. Water use efficiency differs among species, the highest being Podocarpus falcatus, followed by Prunus africana, Cordia africana and Juniperus procera. Therefore, by strategically planting native tree species on suitable target areas with desired spatial configuration, the maximum potential of natural conditions could be captured and secondary forests could be restored.

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