The Effect of Land Use on Carbon Stocks and Implications for Climate Variability on the Slopes of Mount Elgon, Eastern Uganda
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Date
2017
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Publisher
International Journal of Regional Development
Abstract
We investigated the impact of land use change on carbon stocks and its implications to
climate variability in Mountain environments. Remotely sensed biophysical data was used to
determine the extent of land use change over the last two decades. Land uses were stratified
thus; forest under restoration, woodlots/plantations, agricultural land, regenerating forest and
intact forest. Carbon in above and below ground biomass was measured using the allometric
equations, whilst soil samples were analyzed for total carbon by the dry combustion method.
The differences in carbon stocks in various land uses were analyzed using Analysis of
variance (ANOVA). Top soil layers (0-10cm) were found to store more carbon than the
deeper ones. Furthermore, intact forest stored more soil organic carbon (> 45t/ha) compared
to other land uses with the least in land under agriculture (about 1.5 t/ha). The decimation of
land uses with high carbon stocks was noted to reduce the potential of Mt. Elgon as a carbon
sink. This therefore calls for the scaling out and up of forest restoration programmes in and around mountain environments, whose success will depend on the active participation of all
stakeholders including, Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), local communities, politicians
and leaders.
Description
Keywords
Land use change, Carbon stocks, Climate variability, Mt. Elgon, Eastern Uganda
Citation
Mugagga, F., Nagasha, B., Barasa, B., & Buyinza, M. (2017). The effect of land use on carbon stocks and implications for climate variability on the slopes of Mount Elgon, Eastern Uganda. International Journal of Regional Development. http://dx.doi.org/10.5296/ijrd.v2i1.7537