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Gautam, S; Pietsch, SA.
(2012): Carbon pools of an intact forest in Gabon
AFR J ECOL. 2012; 50(4): 414-427. FullText FullText_BOKU

Abstract:: Quantitative and qualitative loss of tropical forests prompted international policy agendas to slow down forest loss through reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD)+, ensuring carbon offset payments to developing countries. So far, many African countries lack reliable forest carbon data and monitoring systems as required by REDD+. In this study, we estimate the carbon stocks of a naturally forested landscape unaffected by direct human impact. We used data collected from 34 plots randomly distributed across the Mount Birougou National Park (690km2) in southern Gabon. We used tree-level data on species, diameter, height, species-specific wood density and carbon fraction as well as site-level data on dead wood, soil and litter carbon to calculate carbon content in aboveground, belowground, dead wood, soil and litter as 146, 28, 14, 186 and 7Mgha-1, respectively. Results may serve as a benchmark to assess ecosystem carbon loss/gain for the Massif du Chaillu in Gabon and the Republic of Congo, provide field data for remote sensing and also may contribute to establish national monitoring systems.
Authors BOKU Wien:: Gautam Sishir; Pietsch Stephan
Find related publications in this database (Keywords): biomass; inventory; mosaic cycle; REDD; tropical forests