Carbon stocks in forested and other land cover/use types around Budongo Central Forest Reserve, western Uganda

Abstract

In this study, I compared average carbon stocks in Budongo central forest reserve (CFR) and other land cover/use types around the CFR. The study focused on aboveground carbon (AGC) and soil organic carbon (SOC). Field measurements were made to obtain data used in allometric equations to estimate aboveground biomass. Field data was then used to derive AGC. For the SOC, soil samples were obtained for each land cover/use type at a depth of 30cm and analyzed in the lab using Walkley-Black titration method. Mean values of AGC were compared and natural forest was found to carry the highest carbon (271.6 Mg/ha C) while grassland and cropland contained the least (0.7 and 0.1 Mg/ha C respectively). Agroforestry contained slightly more than half (155.3 Mg/ha C) of AGC as in forest while tree plantations (pine, eucalyptus and teak) contained less than half AGC (97.9 Mg/ha C) as that in forest. SOC values were compared for means and tested for significant difference using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and pairwise comparisons using the Tukey multiple comparison of means. The mean SOC in the land cover/use types was significantly different. Cropland and agroforestry land cover/use types contained the highest SOC (120.0 Mg/ha C) more than twice as much as in the forest soils (49.5 Mg/ha C). SOC in forest were also significantly lower than that in all other land cover/use types. The results imply that while natural forest contained the highest AGC, it had low amounts of SOC and vice-versa for cropland. Agroforestry on the other hand had comparatively high values of AGC and SOC. This therefore calls for increased consideration of other land cover/use types, especially those that incorporate trees in the landscape in addition to forest in climate change mitigation endeavors.