Aboveground Biomass And Carbon Stock In A Lowland Secondary Forest And A Polyculture Tree Plantation In Baybay City, Leyte

Abstract

Though the Rainforestation approach has been in place for more than two decades, there are very few studies that examine if this has achieved its objective of simulating natural forests not only in structure but in function. This study aimed to estimate and compare aboveground biomass and carbon stock in a lowland secondary forest and a polyculture tree plantation in Baybay City, Leyte. The study was conducted in the Visayas State University (VSU) Forest Reservation and in a polyculture tree plantation in Baybay City, Leyte. In each site, five 20 m x 20 m subplots were randomly established, all trees with a diameter at breast height (DBH) of at least 10 cm within the five 20m x 20m) plots were identified, measured and aboveground biomass and corresponding carbon stock estimated. The total aboveground biomass (AGB) accumulated in the secondary forest was 125.95 Mg ha-1, while that of the polyculture tree plantation was 77.24 Mg ha-1. Carbon stock of trees in the secondary forest was 56.68 Mg C ha-1 while that of the polyculture tree plantation had an equivalent aboveground carbon stock of 34.75 Mg C ha-1   The difference between carbon stocks in the secondary forest and polyculture tree plantation suggest that in terms of potential to store carbon, the tree plantation has yet to mimic the capacity of this nearby secondary forest.