Spatial Variation in Tree Density and Estimated Aboveground Carbon Stocks in Southern Africa

Tamene, Lulseged; Mponela, Powell; Sileshi, Gudeta W.; Tondoh, Jérôme E.

doi:10.3390/f7030057

Cited by 6 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 27 publications

(30 reference statements)

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“…The dominant soils ranged from Arenosols and Cambisols on arid sites to Ferralsols, Lixisols, and Luvisols on humid sites (Table S1). A large proportion of the sites experience soil erosion, bushfires, and livestock grazing (Tamene, Mponela, Sileshi, Chen, & Tondoh, ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Soil structural degradation and nutrient limitations across land use categories and climatic zones in Southern Africa

Tamene¹,

Sileshi

Ndengu³

et al. 2019

Land Degrad Dev

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Although soil degradation is a major threat to food security and carbon sequestration, our knowledge of the spatial extent of the problem and its drivers is very limited in Southern Africa. Therefore, this study aimed to quantify the risk of soil structural degradation and determine the variation in soil stoichiometry and nutrient limitations with land use categories (LUCs) and climatic zones. Using data on soil clay, silt, organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) concentrations collected from 4,468 plots on 29 sites across Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe, this study presents novel insights into the variations in soil structural degradation and nutrient limitations. The analysis revealed strikingly consistent stoichiometric coupling of total N, P, and S concentrations with SOC across LUCs. The only exception was on crop land where available P was decoupled from SOC. Across sample plots, the probability (φ) of severe soil structural degradation was 0.52. The probability of SOC concentrations falling below the critical value of 1.5% was 0.49. The probabilities of soil total N, available P, and S concentrations falling below their critical values were 0.95, 0.70, and 0.83, respectively. N limitation occurred with greater probability in woodland (φ = .99) and forestland (φ = .97) than in cropland (φ = .92) and grassland (φ = .90) soils. It is concluded that soil structural degradation, low SOC concentrations, and N and S limitations are widespread across Southern Africa. Therefore, significant changes in policies and practices in land management are needed to reverse the rate of soil structural degradation and increase soil carbon storage.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…From the center point of the plot, a distance of 12.2 m was measured to the upper slope position using measuring tape, and the center of the subplot was marked as Subplot 3. Subplots 1 and 2 were offset at 120° from Subplot 3 (Tamene et al, ). The radius of each subplot was 5.64 m, which gives approximately 0.01‐ha area.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil structural degradation and nutrient limitations across land use categories and climatic zones in Southern Africa

Tamene¹,

Sileshi

Ndengu³

et al. 2019

Land Degrad Dev

Self Cite

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“…Tree abundance in both sides of the study area (i.e. Mporoto forest reserve side and Rungwe forest reserve side) was compared by using Shannon Weiver Species richness index (H) [15] ( )…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forest Biomass Management challenges in Commercially Exotic Tree Plantations Areas. A case study from the Rungwe Volcanic Province (Southern Highlands of Tanzania)

Mwakisunga¹

2017

GEP

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The carbon (C) stored in the living biomass of trees is typically the largest C pool of the forest ecosystem which is directly impacted by deforestation and degradation. With the global efforts to combat climate change through a forestation and reforestation to reduce carbon emissions in the atmosphere, natural forests conservation and tree planting programmes are highly emphasized in developing countries for both commercial purposes and carbon emissions reduction. Though most of the trees planted are exotic trees especially Pinus patula, Eucalyptus saligina and partly Cypress sp. with some fruit and shade trees in towns. When comparing survival and carbon content of exotic and indigenous trees grown, exotic trees have high initial biomass and growth rate while indigenous trees perform better in survival rates; also indigenous forest sequesters more above ground biomass (C) and soil carbon than exotic plantations. Hence embarking on clearance of forest's indigenous trees for plantation of commercial exotic trees slightly slows down the efforts of carbon emission reduction and mitigation of climate change through enhancement of carbon sequesters. Therefore, this calls for the need to assess how individual tree planting programs lead into natural forest's encroachment. The study was conducted at Mbeya One ward lying between Mporoto and Rungwe forest reserves in Mbeya rural district, in the Southern highlands of Tanzania. The main objective was 1) to assess the indigenous tree biomass variation between Mporoto and Rungwe forest reserves; 2) to assess the exotic tree biomass variation between the two forest reserves; and 3) to assess the human implication on aboveground biomass variation between the two forest reserves. The findings indicated significant decrease in indigenous trees biomass in residential and crop land areas with a hasty increase in biomass when just reaching Mporoto forest reserve indicating little human encroachment in the forest re- serve. There was the same trend towards Rungwe forest reserve; however, there was a slight increase in indigenous tree biomass when reaching forest reserve signing presence of human encroachment in the forest reserve. The main human activities observed in the reserve were: timber harvesting and commercial exotic trees planting (especially the commercial trees, Pinus patula). The trend was opposite for the exotic trees especially for Pinus patula and Eucalyptus sp. in the study area. Hence the study concludes that there is a significant variation between indigenous and exotic trees in the study area, hence the variation in the tree biomass. There is also a massive human encroachment for indigenous trees clearance in expense of exotic trees plantations towards and in Rungwe forest reserve. Therefore, the study would like to call for an urgent intervention especially in the east side of the study area (Rungwe forest reserve) stopping exotic tree plantation penetrating into the forest reserve which intensifies cutting down of indigenous trees in the forest reserve...

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“…Tree heights were estimated using a pole or a clinometer. To estimate aboveground tree biomass (AGB), tree species with height ≥ 3 m were considered as containing the greater portion of aboveground biomass [37-38]. Since allometric equations are not available for most of the species, AGB was estimated using the generalized allometric model equation 4 of Chave et al [39]:…”

Section: Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Functions of farmers’ preferred tree species and their potential carbon stocks in southern Burkina Faso: implications for biocarbon initiatives

Dimobe¹,

Tondoh

Weber

et al. 2018

Preprint

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29The success of terrestrial carbon sequestration projects for rural development in sub- 30Saharan Africa lies in the (i) involvement of local populations in the selection of woody 31 species, which represent the biological assets they use to meet their daily needs, and 32(ii) information about the potential of these species to store carbon. Although the latter 33 is a key prerequisite, there is very little information available. To help fill this gap, the

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Spatial Variation in Tree Density and Estimated Aboveground Carbon Stocks in Southern Africa

Cited by 6 publications

References 27 publications

Soil structural degradation and nutrient limitations across land use categories and climatic zones in Southern Africa

Soil structural degradation and nutrient limitations across land use categories and climatic zones in Southern Africa

Forest Biomass Management challenges in Commercially Exotic Tree Plantations Areas. A case study from the Rungwe Volcanic Province (Southern Highlands of Tanzania)

Functions of farmers’ preferred tree species and their potential carbon stocks in southern Burkina Faso: implications for biocarbon initiatives

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