Allometric equations to estimate above-ground biomass of small-diameter mixed tree species in secondary tropical forests

SUMMARYTropical forests are both important stores of carbon and among the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet. Reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD) schemes are designed to mitigate the impacts of climate change, by conserving tropical forests threatened by deforestation or degradation. REDD schemes also have the potential to contribute significantly to biodiversity conservation efforts within tropical forests, however biodiversity conservation and carbon sequestration need to be aligned more closely for this potential to be realized. This paper analyses the relationship between tree species diversity and above-ground biomass (AGB) derived from 1-ha tree plots in Central African rainforests. There was a weakly significant correlation between tree biomass and tree species diversity (r = 0.21, p = 0.03), and a significantly higher mean species diversity in plots with larger AGB estimates (M = 44.38 species in the top eight plots, compared to M = 35.22 in the lower eight plots). In these Central African plots, the relationship between tree species diversity and AGB appeared to be highly variable; nonetheless, high species diversity may often be related to higher biomass and, in such cases, REDD schemes may enhance biodiversity by targeting species diverse forests.

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Allometric Equations for Estimating the Above-Ground Biomass of Five Forest Tree Species in Khangai, Mongolia

Forests ◽

10.3390/f10080661 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (8) ◽

pp. 661 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Batbaatar Altanzagas ◽

Yongkai Luo ◽

Batbaatar Altansukh ◽

Chimidnyam Dorjsuren ◽

Jingyun Fang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tree Species ◽

Allometric Equations ◽

Tree Level ◽

Pinus Sibirica ◽

Above Ground Biomass ◽

Individual Tree ◽

Siberian Stone Pine ◽

Ground Biomass ◽

Forest Region ◽

Species Specific

Understanding the contribution of forest ecosystems to regulating greenhouse gas emissions and maintaining the atmospheric CO2 balance requires the accurate quantification of above-ground biomass (AGB) at the individual tree species level. The main objective of this study was to develop species-specific allometric equations for the total AGB and various biomass components, including stem, branch, and foliage biomass in Khangai region, northern Mongolia. We destructively sampled a total of 183 trees of five species (22–74 trees per species), including Siberian stone pine (Pinus sibirica Du Tour.), Asian white birch (Betula platyphylla Sukacz.), Mongolian poplar (Populus suaveolens Fisch.), Siberian spruce (Picea obovata Ldb.), and Siberian larch (Larix sibirica Ldb.), across this region. The results showed that for the five species, the average biomass proportion for the stems was 75%, followed by branches at 20% and foliage at 5%. The species-specific component and total AGB models for the Khangai region were developed using tree diameter at breast height (D) and D² and tree height (H) combined ( D 2 H ); and both D and H were used as independent variables. The best allometric model was lnŶ = lna + b × lnD + c × lnH for the various components and total AGB of B. platyphylla and L. sibirica, for the stems and total AGB of P. suaveolens, and for the stem and branch biomass of P. obovata. The equation lnŶ = lna + b × ln( D 2 × H ) was best for the various components and total AGB of P. sibirica, for the branch and foliage biomass of P. suaveolens, and for AGB of P. obovata. The equation lnŶ = lna + b × ln(D) was best only for the foliage biomass of P. obovata. Our results highlight that developing species-specific tree AGB models is very important for accurately estimating the biomass in the Khangai forest region of Mongolia. Our biomass models will be used at the tree level inventories with sample plots in the Khangai forest region.

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Above-ground biomass estimation of Indian tropical forests using X band Pol-InSAR and Random Forest

Remote Sensing Applications Society and Environment ◽

10.1016/j.rsase.2020.100462 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 ◽

pp. 100462

Author(s):

Sadhana Yadav ◽

Hitendra Padalia ◽

Sanjiv K. Sinha ◽

Ritika Srinet ◽

Prakash Chauhan

Keyword(s):

Random Forest ◽

Tropical Forests ◽

Biomass Estimation ◽

Above Ground Biomass ◽

Ground Biomass ◽

X Band

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Allometric equations for accurate estimation of above-ground biomass in logged-over tropical rainforests in Sarawak, Malaysia

Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1007/s10310-009-0149-1 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 14 (6) ◽

pp. 365-372 ◽

Cited By ~ 46

Author(s):

Tanaka Kenzo ◽

Ryo Furutani ◽

Daisuke Hattori ◽

Joseph Jawa Kendawang ◽

Sota Tanaka ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Allometric Equations ◽

Tropical Rainforests ◽

Accurate Estimation ◽

Above Ground Biomass ◽

Ground Biomass

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Above-ground biomass of seedling and semi-mature Sesbania sesban, a multi-purpose tree species, estimated using allometric regressions

Agroforestry Systems ◽

10.1007/bf00704880 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 29 (2) ◽

pp. 103-112 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

N. A. Jackson ◽

H. Griffiths ◽

M. Zeroni

Keyword(s):

Tree Species ◽

Sesbania Sesban ◽

Above Ground Biomass ◽

Ground Biomass

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Forest Structure, Composition and Above Ground Biomass of Tree Community in Tropical Dry Forests of Eastern Ghats, India

Notulae Scientia Biologicae ◽

10.15835/nsb819746 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 125-133 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Sudam Charan SAHU ◽

H.S. SURESH ◽

N.H. RAVINDRANATH

Keyword(s):

Forest Structure ◽

Tree Species ◽

Basal Area ◽

Eastern Ghats ◽

Tropical Dry Forests ◽

Above Ground Biomass ◽

Importance Value ◽

Shorea Robusta ◽

Ground Biomass ◽

C Stocks

The study of biomass, structure and composition of tropical forests implies also the investigation of forest productivity, protection of biodiversity and removal of CO2 from the atmosphere via C-stocks. The hereby study aimed at understanding the forest structure, composition and above ground biomass (AGB) of tropical dry deciduous forests of Eastern Ghats, India, where as a total of 128 sample plots (20 x 20 meters) were laid. The study showed the presence of 71 tree species belonging to 57 genera and 30 families. Dominant tree species was Shorea robusta with an importance value index (IVI) of 40.72, while Combretaceae had the highest family importance value (FIV) of 39.01. Mean stand density was 479 trees ha-1 and a basal area of 15.20 m2 ha-1. Shannon’s diversity index was 2.01 ± 0.22 and Simpson’s index was 0.85 ± 0.03. About 54% individuals were in the size between 10 and 20 cm DBH, indicating growing forests. Mean above ground biomass value was 98.87 ± 68.8 Mg ha-1. Some of the dominant species that contributed to above ground biomass were Shorea robusta (17.2%), Madhuca indica (7.9%), Mangifera indica (6.9%), Terminalia alata (6.9%) and Diospyros melanoxylon (4.4%), warranting extra efforts for their conservation. The results suggested that C-stocks of tropical dry forests can be enhanced by in-situ conserving the high C-density species and also by selecting these species for afforestation and stand improvement programs. Correlations were computed to understand the relationship between above ground biomass, diversity indices, density and basal area, which may be helpful for implementation of REDD+ (reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, and foster conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks) scheme.

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