Assessment of Woody Species Composition and Tree Species with Highest Carbon Stock Potential in Kubayo Forest, Bale Zone, Southeastern Ethiopia

Back Ground: Climate change, mainly caused by global warming, is the most pressing environmental problem of the world today and it is a phenomenon partly resulting from abundance of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The problem of increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide can be addressed in a number of ways. One of such actions is forestry development and forest management undertakings that can contribute to climate change mitigation.Objective: Assessment of Woody Species Composition and Tree Species With highest Carbon Stock Potential in Kubayo Forest of Bale Zone was carried out in 2018. This study was conducted in Kubayo Forest, with the objectives of identifying the composition of woody plant species and identifying tree species with highest carbon stock potential in the area. Methodology: Data were collected from the field by measuring plants with a DBH of ≥ 5 cm and the carbon stocks of each plant was analyzed. Aboveground biomass was estimated by using allometric models. A systematic sampling method was used to conduct the woody species sampling. In order to collect woody species data, a total of 63 quadrats, each with the size of 20 m x 20 m at an interval of 100 m were laid along the established transects at 200 m apart. The result was analyzed by SPSS software, version 20. Result: The findings of the study revealed that, Juniperus procera was the most dominant and Ficus sycomorus was the least dominant one. Juniperus procera store the highest average carbon 39.76 ton/ha and the lowest carbon was recorded from Dodonaea viscosa 0.30 ton/ha among 24 tree species studied. The maximum and minimum above ground carbon stock potential of Kubayo forest was 172.53 and 81.03 ton/ha respectively. The mean above ground carbon stock of the study area was 141.06 ton/ha. The maximum and minimum AG carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration of the study site was 633.18 and 297.40 ton/ha respectively. The mean above ground carbon dioxide sequestration of the study area was 517.68 ton/ha. Recommendation: As a recommendation, regional and federal administrations should have to give attention on rising awareness to the local people regarding participatory forest management and sustainable use of natural resources. Keywords: Aboveground carbon stock, Woody species, Kubayo forest, DOI: 10.7176/ALST/77-05 Publication date: January 31st 2020