Trees Outside Forest: Carbon Stock and Socio-economic Contribution

Abstract

Trees Outside Forest (TOF) are considered important from an environmental, economic and social perspective.Due to its spatial heterogeneity and distribution patterns, the assessment of TOF and its importance is largely absent. The current study was carried out to assess the major TOFs, carbon stocks contained and socio-economic contribution of TOFs in Banepa Municipality. A stratified random sampling method was used for the collection of data (i.e. agriculture land, settlement area and other than agriculture and settlement). Circular plots of 1,000 m 2 having a radius of 17.84 m were laid out randomly in all three strata. A questionnaire survey and field observation was done to explore the socio-economic contribution of TOF. During the study, a total of 28 tree species were recorded. Socio-economic contribution of TOF were converted and presented in terms of monetary value per household per year (NRs/hh/yr), i.e. firewood (960 NRs/hh/yr), fruits (820 NRs/hh/yr), selling whole tree (5500 NRs/hh/yr), timber (25500 NRs/hh/yr) and fodder (4543 NRs/hh/yr). About 23% of the TOF are mostly used for fodder collection and the other 23% of TOF for fruit collection. The total carbon stock was calculated to be 5.76 ton/ha (1.39ton/ha in agriculture land, 2.09ton/ha in the settlement area, and 2.27 ton/ha in other than agriculture or settlement) in the study area and the average carbon stock was calculated to be 1.92 ton/ha. Species-wise carbon stock was calculated where Prunus cerasoides and Alnus nepalensis were found to have a higher contribution in carbon storage. Hence, there is a visible impact of TOF in carbon storage and socio-economic improvement of local people.

Trees on Farms to Improve Livelihoods and the Environment

“…Farmers retain, recruit or plant trees on farms because they are useful. TonF contribute to food and nutritional security (Almendarez et al 2013;Saenz-Tijerino 2012;Thapa et al 2021); generate income (Cerda et al 2014); and provide ecosystem services as well as aesthetic and cultural benefits. In Latin America, half of the rural population use TonF for subsistence and income (Dewees 2013).…”

“…Trees on farms are also good for the environment, helping to conserve soil and water (Ilstedt et al 2016), sequester atmospheric carbon (Griscom et al 2017;Thapa et al 2021;Zommer et al 2014), and contribute to the conservation of threatened and ecologically valuable and wild biodiversity (Table 2).…”

“…The abundance of TonF and the important roles that they play in rural livelihoods and environmental management are increasingly being recognized (Yadav 2019;Schnell et al 2015a;Thapa et al 2021;Thomas et al 2021;Bolyn et al 2019). However, TonF are still largely absent from global initiatives (such as REDD+, FAO/FRA, UN conventions on biological diversity and on water) and in national agendas.…”