Carbon sequestration and biodiversity of re-growing miombo woodlands in Mozambique

Williams, Mathew; Ryan, Casey M.; Rees, Robert M.; Sambane, E.; Fernando, J.; Grace, John

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2007.07.033

Cited by 220 publications

(236 citation statements)

References 25 publications

(28 reference statements)

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“…Thus, study results further showed a higher diversity than other studies in the Miombo region, such as in Mozambique where Shannon indexes of 1.25 were obtained [9], and 1.05 from Tanzania's Miombo by Shirima et al [46], but similar to diversity (3.40, 2.90 and 3.10, respectively) in the landscapes of the Handeni Hill Forest Reserve, in Tanzania [47]. The H value (3.03-3.64) from the present study is probably due to previous disturbances, which opened the canopy and enabled regeneration of light tolerant genus, like Combretum [10].…”

Section: Species Diversity and Evenness Indexsupporting

confidence: 50%

“…It is concluded that the observed and expected frequencies are similar in a statistical point of view and were adherent to α = 5%. In this area, trees of larger diameter class (d > 20 cm) were observed to be less dominant in the woodland, and this diameter class most probably suffered from the past degradation and disturbances from anthropogenic activities [9]. Trees of larger diameter classes are more suitable for commercial timber extractions, charcoal marking and firewood or construction materials [6].…”

Section: Diameter Distributionsmentioning

confidence: 89%

“…Although the dominance by Caesalpinioideae is characteristic, their contribution to tree numbers and biomass varies extensively within and between communities [9,10]. The dry Miombo canopy is generally less than 15 m in height and deciduous for a month or more during the dry season [3,5].…”

Section: The Study Area Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The species richness (124 species) of trees and the densities of species from the Fabaceae family observed in this study compare well with the Miombo woodland occurring in other areas. In Mozambique, Ribeiro et al [10] enumerated 79 species in Niassa Forest Reserve, while Williams et al [9] found 69 species around Gorongosa National Park. In Kitulanghalo Forest Reserve and Ihombwa village, Backéus et al [1] and Mbwambo et al [42] found 79 and 86 species, respectively, from Tanzania's Miombo woodland.…”

Section: Species Composition and Richnessmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Miombo is regarded as a vegetation type that has been used by humans since the upper Pleistocene and maintained by man through a long history of cutting, cultivation and frequent dry season fires over the last 55,000 year [7]. In Mozambique, this woodland covers 70% of the country [8,9], and traditionally provides a large number of ecosystem goods, hardwood timber, firewood and services [10], particularly in the form of edible species. Thus, it is economically important to livelihood [11,12].…”

Section: Introduction mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Diversity and Structure of Miombo Woodlands in Mozambique Using a Range of Sampling Sizes

Hofiço¹

2015

JAST-B

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Forest assessments are essential to understand the tree population structure and diversity status of forests and to provide information for biodiversity recovery planning. Unfortunately, the majority of Miombo woodlands in Mozambique lack of inventory data, and consequently are often insufficient for management. This study aimed to assess the species richness, diversity and structure of Miombo woodlands using a range of sampling sizes in Mocuba district, Mozambique. Plant inventory was carried out in 128 systematically selected sample plots in 71.6 ha, which was divided into eight treatments, i.e., T1: 0.1 ha; T2: 0.25 ha; T3: 0.375 ha; T4: 0.5 ha; T5: 0.625 ha; T6: 0.75 ha; T7: 0.875 ha; T8: 1.0 ha, with 16 repetitions. All stems ≥ 10 cm diameter at breast height, and species name to evaluate the floristic composition, richness of tree species, diversity and diameter distribution were recorded. A total of 36,535 individuals were recorded, belonging 124 species, 83 genera and representing 31 botanical families. The most important species was the Brachystegia spiciformis Benth. and the richest botanical family was Fabaceae. The forest showed an average of 517 ± 85 trees/ha, and high species diversity and evenness. Analysis of covariance shows that the intercepts and slope of exponential function for diameter distribution are not significantly different for the eight treatments. Compared with the entire composite forest, inventory means were accurately estimated and size class distributions were well represented for plots ≤ 0.25 ha, for selecting an efficient sampling design suited to forest characteristics and the inventory's purpose.

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Section: Species Diversity and Evenness Indexsupporting

confidence: 50%

Section: Diameter Distributionsmentioning

confidence: 89%

Section: The Study Area Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Species Composition and Richnessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introduction mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Diversity and Structure of Miombo Woodlands in Mozambique Using a Range of Sampling Sizes

Hofiço¹

2015

JAST-B

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Fire regimes and variability in aboveground woody biomass in miombo woodland

et al. 2014

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This study combined a process‐based ecosystem model with a fire regime model to understand the effect of changes in fire regime and climate pattern on woody plants of miombo woodland in African savanna. Miombo woodland covers wide areas in Africa and is subject to frequent anthropogenic fires. The model was developed based on observations of tree topkill rates in individual tree size classes for fire intensity and resprouting. Using current and near‐future climate patterns, the model simulated the dynamics of miombo woodland for various fire return intervals and grass cover fractions, allowing fire intensity to be estimated. There was a significant relationship between aboveground woody biomass and long‐term fire regimes. An abrupt increase in fire intensity and/or fire frequency applied as a model forcing led to reduced long‐term average aboveground woody biomass and mean tree size. Fire intensity increased with increasing living grass biomass (which provides increased flammable fuel), thereby affecting the relationship between fire regime and tree size, creating a demographic bottleneck on the route to tree maturity. For the current fire regime in miombo woodland, with a fire return interval of about 1.6–3 years, the model‐predicted fire intensity lower than 930–1700 kW m−1 is necessary to maintain today's aboveground woody biomass under current climate conditions. Future climate change was predicted to have a significant positive effect on woody plants in miombo woodland associated with elevated CO2 concentration and warming, allowing woody plants to survive more effectively against periodic fires.

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Human and natural controls of the variation in aboveground tree biomass in African dry tropical forests

Pelletier

Siampale

Legendre

et al. 2017

Ecological Applications

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Understanding the anthropogenic and natural controls that affect the patterns, distribution, and dynamics of terrestrial carbon is crucial to meeting climate change mitigation objectives. We assessed the human and natural controls over aboveground tree biomass density in African dry tropical forests, using Zambia's first nationwide forest inventory. We identified predictors that best explain the variation in biomass density, contrasted anthropogenic and natural sites at different spatial scales, and compared sites with different stand structure characteristics and species composition. In addition, we evaluated the effects of different management and conservation practices on biomass density. Variation in biomass density was mostly determined by biotic processes, linked with both species richness and dominance (evenness), and to a lesser extent, by land use, environmental controls, and spatial structure. Biomass density was negatively associated with tree species evenness and positively associated with species richness for both natural and human-modified sites. Human influence variables (including distance to roads, distance to town, fire occurrence, and the population on site) did not explain substantial variation in biomass density in comparison to biodiversity variables. The relationship of human activities to biomass density in managed sites appears to be mediated by effects on species diversity and stand structure characteristics, with lower values in human-modified sites for all metrics tested. Small contrasts in carbon density between human-modified and natural forest sites signal the potential to maintain carbon in the landscape inside but also outside forestlands in this region. Biodiversity is positively related to biomass density in both human and natural sites, demonstrating potential synergies between biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation. This is the first evidence of positive outcomes of protected areas and participatory forest management on carbon storage at national scale in Zambia. This research shows that understanding controls over biomass density can provide policy relevant inputs for carbon management and on ecological processes affecting carbon storage.

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Carbon sequestration and biodiversity of re-growing miombo woodlands in Mozambique

Cited by 220 publications

References 25 publications

Diversity and Structure of Miombo Woodlands in Mozambique Using a Range of Sampling Sizes

Diversity and Structure of Miombo Woodlands in Mozambique Using a Range of Sampling Sizes

Fire regimes and variability in aboveground woody biomass in miombo woodland

Human and natural controls of the variation in aboveground tree biomass in African dry tropical forests

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