Measuring the climate change mitigation potential of forests and TOF (tree outside forest) systems in Thrissur
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Date
2017
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Academy of Climate Change Education and Research Vellanikkara
Abstract
Inventorying of terrestrial carbon stock is important in understanding the
role of forests and tree resources in the mitigation of climate change and its
consequences. For this purpose, a total of 40 sample plots of 0.1ha area were
inventoried. The sample plots included 4 plots within evergreen forests, 10 plots in
moist deciduous forests and 26 plots in TOF (Trees Outside Forests) systems of
Thrissur district in Kerala, Southern India. Five carbon pools, namely, above
ground biomass, below ground biomass, deadwood, leaf litter and soil organic
carbon were estimated. Chave’s generalised allometric model was used to estimate
the above ground biomass. Below ground biomass component and deadwood
carbon was calculated using IPCC default values. Litter carbon in forest systems
were measured using gravimetric method while in TOF systems litter carbon was
appropriated using UNFCCC guidelines. Soil organic carbon in every soil samples
was measured using the Walkley black wet digestion method.
A land use land cover map of Thrissur district for the same land use classes
was also prepared using spectral signatures obtained from the GPS coordinates
during field work. From the study, the mean carbon stock of evergreen forests,
moist deciduous forests and TOF systems calculated were 623.68, 306.71, 150.15
tons/ha respectively. Above ground biomass was the major contributor in every
land use type except in the case of plantations in TOF systems where soil organic
carbon was the major contributor. The other major contributor included soil organic
carbon, followed by below ground biomass while dead wood and litter carbon
formed the least.
The mitigation potential of forests and TOF systems in Thrissur district was
calculated to be 19.22 million tons of CO2. The major contributor was the TOF
systems which shows the immense potential of Kerala in mitigating the change in
climate with its large population of trees outside forests.
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