ESTIMATION OF CARBON STORAGE POTENTIAL OF THE TREE SPECIES ZAFENIGUS NATURAL FORESTS, ETHIOPIA

Rehabilitation of degraded forests and lands using the vegetative method can be used to improve the environmental condition and sequestered carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Forest sequesters and stores more carbon than any other terrestrial ecosystem and it is an important natural break on climate change. It acts as a carbon reservoir by storing a large amount of carbon in trees, undergrowth vegetation, forest floor, and soil. This study was conducted to estimate carbon stock in dry Afromontane forest type of Zafezigus natural forests in the Amhara Region. The main objective: to estimate the aboveground biomass (AGB) and belowground biomass (BGB) and C stock of the forest. Zafenigus natural forest 25 sampling plot using 20 by 20 meter 400m2 or 0.04ha were established through systematic grid distance (500m) having 400m2 area. Inventory on diameter at breast height (≥ 5 cm) and Height (m) for species trees was measured. AGB of each species was calculated using the recommended allometric equation and BGB was calculated as 20% of the AGB. Zafenigus natural forest 30 woody species and 1725 individual’s tree species present 25 sampling plots were identified. Basal area Zafenigus natural forest was 8.33meter square per hectare for the trees with 5cm DBH and above. As a result of Zafnigus natural Forest 403.59 t/ha carbon estimate. From this, no AGBC and BGBC of the forest were 177.74 ton/ha and 35.55 ton/ha. Our result was used as baseline information to know additive Carbon in the forest. Furthermore, assisted natural regeneration and integrated management approaches are needed to enrich forest species and sequester more C in a short period.