Abstract:
The role of forests in mitigating the effects of climate change depends on carbon
sequestration potential of the vegetation. This research investigated carbon stock
potential of vegetation type in a dry evergreen montane forest of Bale Mountains
National Park. Moreover vegetation characterization was done before carbon stock
was estimated from different carbon pools (above and below ground biomass, litter
and soil). Systematic transect sampling method was used to measure all trees/shrubs
with diameter at breast height ≥ 5cm for its diameter at breast height and height as
well as representative samples for litter and soil was taken in the plot size of 10x20m.
Regarding the vegetation cover, at the lower altitude the grasses are densely
populated and associated with the domination of Juniperus procera tree species. The
middle zone is characterized by mixed vegetation like Juniperus procer, Hagenia
abyssinica, Hypericum revolutum and Myrsine melanophloeos trees population
whereas the higher zone is dominated with Erica arborea species that associated with
flat land rock and different grasses. The average total carbon stock density of the
Park Forest was 181.98 t/ha of carbon where the litter biomass account 1.38t/ha, tree
biomass account 57.91 t/ha and the soil account 122.69t/ha.
Key words: Bale Mountains National Park, Carbon stock, Climate change Mitigation,
Diameter at breast height and Dry evergreen montane forest.