Comparative Study of Above Ground Biomass and Carbon Stock in Chakrata Forest Division

Abstract

Forests plays important role in ecosystem. Forest shows a variety of ecosystem services, one of the most important ones being absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and converting it into biomass. Biomass refers to the mass of the living organism within a tree. Forests play a major role in sequestering carbon and regulating the global carbon and energy cycles. Accurately estimating forest biomass is crucial for understanding carbon stock and sequestration, forest degradation, and climate change mitigation. The primary objective of this research paper is to find out above ground biomass as well as carbon stock of coniferous species of Chakrata forest division also known as “Jaunsar Bawar” located in the state Uttarakhand. Sample plots are selected on random basis in 22 compartments from where data is collected. Techniques used for assessment of biomass are traditional field measurement. Biomass has measured through collection of information on DBH, Number of tree species, tree height etc within sample plots. The present study demonstrates that Chakrata forest division is one of most floristic diverse forest area. Chakrata forest division is very diverse consisting of 5 major forest types from sub-tropical to alpine forest. Under Chakrata forest division Kanasar forest range is acclaimed in Asia for Deodar tree growth. Present study also illustrates the well growth of Deodar, Kail, Silver fir and Spruce. In this study highest average AGB 107.41 tonnes/ha is recorded in case of Cedrus deodara species with Average carbon stock of 226.7 tonnes/ha as compared to Fir and spruce which are 53.51 tones/ha and 113.29 tonnes/ha. In case of species Pinus wallichiana Average above ground biomass is 38.3 ton/ha and average carbon stock is 81.08 ton/ha.