Vegetation structure, carbon sequestration potential and species conservation in four agroforestry systems in Cameroon (Tropical Africa)

Abstract

As the rate of forest degradation continues to rise, agroforestry may serve as a way of conserving species and carbon sinks. Th e aim of this study was to assess agrobiodiversity and carbon sequestration potential in agrosystems in Cameroon. Th ree age groups of agrosystems were studied. Data were collected in 100x50 m 2 quadrates. Density ranged from 53.17±0.08 to 1463±50.11; basal area from 2.07±0.00 to 988.39±16.13 m 2 /ha; Shannon diversity from 3.3±0.71 to 3.68±0.72; Carbon storage from 12.1±0.27 to 54.65±1.38 t C/ha for 1-10-year-old agrosystems with lowest values in neem; 34.78±0.87 to 71.34±1.6 t C/ha for 10-20-year-old stands with lowest values in cashew; 28.24±0.04 to 108.51±2.46 t C/ha for +20-year-old stands with highest values in eucalyptus; Carbon sequestration potential from 296.7±1.98 to 859.33±10.01 t CO 2eq /ha. Th e highest carbon stocks were found in eucalyptus stands (p<0.05). Several endogenous species, especially Afzelia bipindensis (EN), Leptoderris ledermannii (EN), Mansonia altissima (EN), Entandrophragma cylindricum (VU), Nesogordonia papaverifera (VU), Quassia sanguinea (VU), Vitellaria paradoxa (VU), Afzelia africana (VU), Erythrina senegalensis (LC), Detarium microcarpum (LC), senna spectabilis (LC), were assessed. Other overexploited species, especially Carissa edulis, Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides, Adansonia digitata, Securidaca longepedonculata, were assessed as well. Th e studied systems are signifi cant CO 2eq sinks and refuge centre for agrobiodiversity.

Plant Diversity, Ecological Services, and Carbon Stock Assessment in Cocoa Agroforestry Plantations of Forest and Savannah Transitions in Cameroon

“…The value 0 of this index indicated a maximum diversity, while value 1 represents the minimum diversity. The methodology used in this study was described in the document [1,28] in cocoa agroforestry systems. Biomass was estimated using allometric model.…”

“…To determine ecosystem services derived from the use of species in agroforests, we used ratio CO 2 /C (44/12) molecular weight to convert carbon stocks (tC/ha) into tCO 2 /ha and, thus, the total CO 2 sequestrated in the farmer's agroforestry demonstration plot [1,28]. The transaction price for conservation was estimated at 10 US$/tCO 2 ; we used this ratio to estimate the ecological service value derived from the utilization of those land use systems [30].…”

“…Patrick Bustrel Choungo Nguekeng 1,2,3 *, René Bernadin Jiofack 1,2 , Lucie Temgoua 4 , Irène Franceline Mbouwe 1,2 , Armelle Verdiane Tchanou 1,2 and Zacharie Tchoundjeu 1,5 *Address all correspondence to: p.choungo@gep-cameroon.org…”

“…The concept of REDD+ is always limited to emissions due to deforestation and the increase of carbon sink in land use systems. In order to contribute to the fight against climate change issues in Cameroon, we should develop suitable proposals which target the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) [1]. The particularity of these projects is to reduce the emission of CO 2 .…”

Structure and Diversity of Agroforestry Parklands in the Sudano-Sahelian Zone of Cameroon

“…During these two decades, the sub-Saharan Africa is facing an accelerated degradation of its plant biodiversity as a result of anthropogenic activities and naturally (FAO, 2015). The climate warming on the planet is a major challenge for developing countries (FAO, 2015;Noumi et al, 2018). The populations living in these countries depend heavily on natural resources of plant and often have an adaptive capacity relatively limited (FAO, 2015).…”