Effect of Harvesting and Non-Harvested Forest Management on Carbon Stocks

Bhagat Suberi *

College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan, Lobesa, Bhutan.

Krishna R. Tiwari

Institute of Forestry, Tribhuvan University, Pokhara, Nepal.

D. B. Gurung

College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan, Lobesa, Bhutan.

Roshan M. Bajracharya

Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel, Nepal.

Bishal K. Sitaula

Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Norway.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.


Abstract

Forest management is an important strategy which can significantly contribute to climate change mitigation through appropriate care of forest resources. This study was carried out to evaluate two systems of carbon stock accumulation; a harvested forest verses a non-harvested forest. Both the above-ground and below-ground cabon stocks were assessed. Biomass of standing trees, poles and ground vegetation was measured for carbon determination in defined areas using an allometric relationship. Soil (core and composite) samples were collected from 0 –20, 20 – 40 cm and below 40 cm depths, assessed for density, carbon concentration, and profiles C-stocks were estimated. ANOVA and t-tests were performed to compare the effects of forest management on total carbon stocks. The results showed that the total above ground timber carbon (AGTC) was higher in non-harvested forest (220±154 t/ha–1) than in harvested forest (128.6±86.1 t/ha-1). The overall mean carbon stock was higher in the non-harvested forest (357±179) than in the harvested forest (257.4±93.1), which was statistically significant (p=0.031, >0.05). However, the soil organic carbon (SOC) pool was observed to be higher in the harvested forest (101.5±36.1) than in non-harvested forest (89.6±26.5).

Keywords: Above ground timber carbon, below ground biomass, carbon pools, soil organic carbon, altitudinal range.


How to Cite

Suberi, Bhagat, Krishna R. Tiwari, D. B. Gurung, Roshan M. Bajracharya, and Bishal K. Sitaula. 2018. “Effect of Harvesting and Non-Harvested Forest Management on Carbon Stocks”. International Journal of Environment and Climate Change 8 (3):152-64. https://doi.org/10.9734/ijecc/2018/v8i327153.