Abstract:
Reforestation and community-based managed forests are wider practices in the tropics,
especially in Ethiopia. However, little empirical evidence is available on the contribution of
community-based managed forests for mitigating climate change and diversity conservation.
Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the potential biomass carbon stocks and
biodiversity conservation role of Goshi Berte community-based managed forest along the
elevation Ranges in Guna Begemidir Districtof Northern Ethiopia. A systematic random
sampling method was used to conduct the vegetation sampling. To collect vegetation data a
total of 29 quadrats, each with the size of 20 m x 20 m at an interval of 140 m, were laid
along the established transects at 140 m apart. To determine the total ecosystem biomass
carbon stock, recently developed biomass allometric equations were used. The mean range of
total biomass carbon stock was recorded from 12.42 t/ha to 139.9 t/ha across the elevation.
The highest AGBC was found at 53.16±16.3 t/ha, followed by 36.57±14.8 t/ha and the least
at 23.57±10.4 t/ha in the upper, middle and lower elevation gradients, respectively. The
result showed that the total biomass C stock in the lower elevation was significantly
(P<0.05) lower than in the middle elevation of the study area and also showed an increasing
trend from lower to higher elevations. But the biomass carbon stocks were not significantly
different between middle and upper elevations. A total of 36 woody species belongs to 27
families were recorded. Of all woody species identified, 91.67% (33 species) were native.
The species diversity was found to be 2.42±0.2, 2.37±0.19 and 2.34± 0.22 for lower, middle
and upper elevation gradients, respectively. The study found no statistically significant
differences in woody species diversity across elevation gradients, despite it shown decreasing
trend along elevation gradients. The biomass stock and species diversity did not reveal
significant relationship in each elevation gradients. Concluded, that a community-based
managed forest ecosystem has potential carbon stocks with considerable variation along
elevations. And also this land use has a potential role in biodiversity conservation. This study
has also shown that community base managed forest ecosystems should be given
conservation priority to benefit from carbon financing opportunities besides varies ecosystem
services.
Key words: Species diversity, carbon stock, aboveground biomass, species evenness.
