Above-ground biomass and carbon stocks of different land cover types in Mt. Elgon, Eastern Uganda
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Date
2014
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Journal of Research on Land-use Sustainability
Abstract
This research applied selected allometric models to estimate the total above ground biomass (TAGB) and carbon
stocks in the different land-use/ land cover (LULC) types in Mt. Elgon National Park, in Eastern Uganda. The LULC
types identified for the study were – tropical high forest (THF) - normal, THF- degraded and grasslands. The
vegetation in each land cover type was assessed at four levels i.e. the mature trees, poles, saplings and undergrowth.
Tree diameter and height of each sampled tree were also measured. In each plot, one sapling was randomly selected,
uprooted and sub-samples of the foliage, bole and root components were collected, and their fresh weight was
determined in the field. Calculation of the Mean Squared Error (MSE), Prediction Sum of Squares (PRESS) statistic and
Predicted R2 values of the selected equations was done to establish the most appropriate equation for biomass and
carbon estimation. The TAGB was 652.15t/ha, 55.16t/ha and 41.7t/ha in the THF-Normal, THF-Degraded and
Grasslands respectively. The carbon stocks in the THF-normal were 293.65tC ha-1, 25 tC ha-1 in the THF-degraded and
18.76 tC ha-1 in the grasslands. Over 90% of sequestered carbon was lost due to land cover change from THF-Normal
to THF-Degraded. This calls for policy makers to urgently come up with interventions to address forest degradation.
Description
Keywords
Biomass, Carbon sink, Land cover change, Mt. Elgon, Uganda
Citation
Buyinza, J., Tumwebaze, S., Namaalwa, J., & Byakagaba, P. (2014). Above-ground biomass and carbon stocks of different land cover types in Mt. Elgon, Eastern Uganda. International Journal of Research on Land-use Sustainability. DOI: 10.13140/2.1.4958.8003