Large Scale Agricultural Investment and a Fragile Soil Paradox in Benishangul Gumuz Regional State: Organic Carbon Stock of Broadleaf and Deciduous Forests of Combretum_Terminalia Woodlands of Benishangul Gumuz Regional State, Western and Northwestern Ethiopia.

Abstract

The organic carbon stock analysis was carried out in Broadleaf and Deciduous Forests of Benishangul Gumuz Regional State of Ethiopia with the objective of determining carbon stock that would be found in Broadleaf and Deciduous Forests of Benishangul Gumuz Regional State (BGRS). The assessment was conducted from 22nd September to 22nd 0ctober 2017. A total of 101 flowering plant species were sampled in 35 sample plots. Three vegetation cover types were identified: Grassland, Open Woodland and Closed woodland. Among the different habitat types in the area; namely: Closed Wood Land (CWL), Open Wood Land (OWL), Grass Land (GL) and Bare Land (BL). The maximum mean Total Carbon Stock Density (TCSD) was recorded from Closed wood land habitat with TCSD of 471 tons of carbon ha-1, followed by OWL, GL and BL with TCSD of 375.79, 118.75 and 47.92 tons of carbon ha-1 respectively. Since the area is located in lower altitude with low amount of rainfall per year and fire prone area, the mean total above ground carbon stock density of the study area which is 134.94 tons of carbon ha-1 is very low as compared to the other forest types. The anthropogenic factors (the human influence) on the woody vegetation particularly the annual burning of the vegetation does not allow a chance for the accumulation of carbon in the soil.