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Organic Carbon Storage in Trees Within Different Geopositions of Chittagong (south) Forest Division, Bangladesh

Mohammed Alamgir
Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, School of Agriculture and Mineral Sciences, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet-3114, Bangladesh

M. Al-Amin
Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong- 4331, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The organic carbon storage in trees and organic carbon flow with geoposition of trees was estimated in the forest area of Chittagong (South) Forest Division within geo-position 91°47' and 92°15' East longitude and 21°45' and 22°30' North latitude. The study was conducted through stratified random sampling by identifying each sampling point through Global Positioning System (GPS). It was found that above-ground organic carbon storage (t/hm2 ), below-ground organic carbon (t/hm² ) and total biomass organic carbon (t/hm² ) was respectively the highest in Dipterocarpus turbinatus (Garjan) (7.9, 1.18 and 9.08 t/hm2 ) followed by Tectona grandis (Teak) (5.66, 0.85 and 6.51 t/hm²), Artocarpus chaplasha (Chapalish) (2.32, 0.34 and 2.66 t/hm² ), Artocarpus lacucha (Batta) (1.97, 0.29 and 2.26 t/hm² ) and Artocarpus heterophyllus (Jackfruit) (1.7 , 0.25 and 2.26 t/hm2 ). From the study, it was revealed that organic carbon stock was the highest (142.7 t/hm² ) in the geo-position 22° Latitude and 92° Longitude and was the lowest (4.42 t/hm² ) in the geo-position 21° 50' Latitude and 92° 2.5' Longitude. The forest of the study area is a good reservoir of organic carbon so has a good capacity to sequester organic carbon from the atmosphere. Sustainable forest management may help to sequester more organic carbon so that economic benefit for the country and environmental benefit in the international arena is possible from the study area.

Keywords: Bangladesh; Organic carbon storage; Forest; Sustainable management

Location: The forest area of Chittagong (South) Forest Division, Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Risk Management in Agriculture

Non-commodity: Carbon sequestration

Objectives:

Presently very scanty information is available about the organic carbon storage in these forest area so to get a clear picture of organic carbon storage in that forest, and the present study was conducted within the Geoposition of Chittagong (South) Forest Division that enables the policymaker to take adequate steps to enrich and conserve the forest with the objectives of carbon sequestration and environmental amelioration in the international arena.

Methodology:

Study site The study area is the forest area of Chittagong (South) Forest Division. It lies within the geo-position 91°47' and 92°15' East longitude and 21°45' and 22°30' North latitude. It covers about 54004.2 hm² forest land (Mabud 2001). Chittagong (South) Forest Division consists of nine Ranges (subdivision). The geology of the area has a complicated and relatively recent tectonic history. Soil is occupying the piedmont alluvial plains and valleys cover about one-fourth of the area (GOB, 1991). The study area has a moist tropical maritime climate, with high rainfall concentrated during the monsoon period from June to September. The relative humidity remains high, 70% to 85% with only minor variation throughout the year. Temperature also remains high with only small seasonal differences (Mabud 2001). The main species present are Chapalish, Telsur, Toon, Chandal, Am, Pitraj, and Jam etc. They are essentially evergreen with few deciduous or semi-deciduous species present. The undergrowth is dense with canes, climbing bamboo, shrubs and climbers. The characteristic feature of secondary forest of this type is the gregarious occurrence of several species of Dipterocarpus (Garjan) with few others in the upper canopy (Mabud 2001). Sampling procedure The study was conducted using collected field data through physical measurement, field observation and laboratory analysis. The study was carried out over one year period from January 2004 to January 2005. Gridlines at the 2.5 ' intervals were inserted in the map from 91°47' to 92°15' East longitude and 21°45' to 22°30' North latitude of the studied area. In this way, a 102-intersection point was pointed in from the map. In the field, each point was identified using Global Positioning System (GPS). Primarily Land use of each intersection point was identified in the field. In this way a total of 31-intersection points in the forest area of the Chittagong (South) Forest Division was identified. Around each intersection point four sampling plots of 20 m×20 m were selected for tree species, in this way a total of 124 sampling plots of 20 m×20 m for trees were studied and the sample was collected from a representative tree of each species from each sampling plot for laboratory analysis to estimate organic carbon. Biomass estimation As the study was conducted in the forest and about 1 400 individuals of 144 tree species were measured in the sampling plots, it was not possible to cut all trees and to estimate the biomass of trees. Consulting models developed by FAO (1997), Luckman et al. (1997), Negi et al. (1988) and Brown et al. (1989), Models of Brown et al. (1989) was used to estimate above-ground biomass because literature showed this method was one of the most suitable methods for tropical forest (Alves et al. 1997; Brown 1997; Schroeder et al. 1997; FAO 1997). The model is as follows: Y= exp. { - 2.4090+ 0.9522 In (D2 HS)} (1) where, exp. = [……] means “raised to the power of […….]”, Y is above-ground biomass in kg, H the height of the trees in meter, D the diameter at breast height (1.3 m) in cm, and S the wood density in units of tonne pre m³. Below ground biomass was calculated considering 15% of the above-ground biomass (Mac Dicken 1997). Estimation of organic carbon storage in trees After taking the fresh weight, collected samples were dried in the oven for 48 hours at 65ºC. Then dried weights were taken. Oven-dried grind samples are taken (1.00 g) in pre-weighed crucibles. The crucibles are placed in the furnace. Then the furnace was adjusted at 550ºC, heating was increased slowly and after reaching at 550ºC, ignition was continued for one hour. The crucibles were cooled slowly keeping them inside the furnace. After cooling, the crucibles with ash were weighted and the percentage of organic carbon was calculated as Allen, et al. (1986). Ash % = (W3-W1) / (W2-W1)× 100 C % = (100 - % ash)×0.58 where C is the organic carbon; W1 the weight of crucibles, W2 the weight of oven-dried grind samples + Crucibles, and W3 the weight of ash + Crucibles. The percentage of organic carbon with the above procedure was estimated for each sample. Then the amount of organic carbon in the both above and below-ground biomass of each tree was calculated separately and added finally to get total amount of organic carbon in the trees. Mean for organic carbon percentage, above-ground organic carbon (t/hm²), below-ground organic carbon (t/ hm²) and total organic carbon (t/hm²) were calculated from total individuals of a species and also converted for each species.

Source of Information: Journal of Forestry Research, 18(3): 174?180 (2007)

Article Link (Online Journal): DOI: 10.1007/s11676-007-0036-6

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Comparing to the above research findings it can be concluded that the trees within Geoposition of Chittagong (South) Forest Division can store a significant amount of atmospheric organic carbon if adequate protection is provided and reforestation in the bared hills through sustainable forest management is implemented. In this way, we can help to reduce the global atmospheric organic carbon and global warming as well as can protect the country from severe environmental hazards because low-lying countries like Bangladesh will go first underwater resulting from sea-level rise.

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