Estimation and Mapping of Carbon Stocks in Bosomkese Forest Reserve

Abstract

Biomass estimation has become a critical element in global environmental studies, because the change in biomass is deemed as an important component of climate change. The aim of this research is to estimate and map carbon stocks in Bosomkese forest reserve using remote sensing, GIS applications and field measurement method. Out of the six carbon pools of terrestrial ecosystem involving biomass (aboveground biomass, belowground biomass, deadwood, non tree, litter and soil organic matter), carbon sequestration of three (aboveground, belowground and deadwood) were assessed. Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) image acquired in 2010 was classified using Erdas Imagine. Total of five land use/cover classes were identified; Closed canopy natural forest, open canopy natural forest, plantation, farmland and fallow land. Diameter at breast height and total height of standing trees as well as the end diameters and the length of downed deadwood were measured in fifty sample plots in the five land use classes. These measurements were converted into aboveground carbon (AGC), belowground carbon (BGC) and deadwood carbon (DWC) using allometric equations developed in 2012 by Forest Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG). Total carbon for each plot was the summation of AGC, BGC and DWC. This research showed that closed canopy natural forest (1748.37 ton/Ha) contained more carbon than the rest of the land use/cover classes. This was followed by open canopy natural forest (1164.12 ton/Ha), plantation (775 ton/Ha), fallow land (110.69 ton/Ha) and farmland (45.13 ton/Ha) in descending order of total carbon stocks. The carbon/carbon dioxide equivalent values together with the plots coordinates were used to generate carbon stock and carbon dioxide equivalent map using Geostatistics tool of ArcGIS 10.0. The total carbon stock for the whole Bosomkese forest is in the range of 2,236,938.90 -2,865,148.33 tons and carbon dioxide equivalent in the range of 8,534,225.45 -10,507,952.05 tons.

Floral diversity and carbon stocks and of protected forest ecosystem: A case of UENR’s Bat Sanctuary, Sunyani, Ghana

“…The study area is averagely storing about 2804.7 t/ha of carbon. We found a relatively higher carbon per hectare of forest compared to Donkor et al (2016) who found an average of 1748.4 tons/ha of carbon (Table 5). The higher carbon per hectare from our study is an indication that natural forest sequesters the greatest amount (Table 6).…”

“…Generally, the total terrestrial ecosystem carbon is estimated based on six carbon pools (Eggleston et al, 2006). However, for the purpose of this study, the total carbon of the PA was estimated by the summation of three major carbon pools of the AGC, BGC and DWC of the different life forms of Donkor et al (2016) who performed a similar study in the Bosomkese forest reserve in the dry semi-deciduous forest zone (Table 5). The total carbon stocks per hectare within the floral species biomass and their respective carbon dioxide equivalent values have been appendiced (Appendix I).…”

“…Likewise, the forests in Ghana assist in the regulation of climate change by storing considerable volumes of atmospheric carbon in the form of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). Although detailed information about carbon stocks of forests for the entire country is scanty (Donkor et al, 2016), their protection is of importance for the conservation of global species diversity and atmospheric carbon sequestration.…”

Livelihood Economic Activities Causing Deforestation in Northern Ghana: Evidence of Sissala West District

“…Ghana land area comprises 32.05% forest and 67.05% savanna of which 20% about 15,871.70 km sq is reserved as permanent forest while 391 km sq is off-reserves [11]. Permanent forest estate in the savanna zone [12].…”

“…Most of the clearing is done for agricultural purposes and also the provision of fuelwood for domestic use. Studies indicated that farmers generally prefer technologies that save labor and capital rather than land to expand agriculture [15]. This means that the type of technology farmers readily to adopt is the one most likely to increase forest clearing.…”