Assessment of Carbon Sequestration Potential of some Selected Urban Tree Species

Abstract

Tree species carbon assessment and quantification remain the only opportunity to determine the position of forest in climate change amelioration potentials. Forest biomass constitutes the largest terrestrial carbon sink and accounts for approximately 90% of all living terrestrial biomass. The aim of this study is to assess tree species carbon sequestration potentials of selected urban tree species. The study was carried out in Adekunle Ajasin University Campus, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria. All trees species [≥]10 cm Diameter at Breast Height (Dbh) within the area were identified and their Dbh measured as well as other variables for volume computation such as height, diameters at the base, middle and top. Also, for density assessment; stem core samples were collected. Again, the coordinate of individual tree was recorded using a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver. A total of 124 individual trees were encountered with varying growth variables as well as carbon values. The study area contains some indigenous and exotic tree species such as Acacia auriculiformis, Terminalia mantily, Gmelina arborea and Tectona grandis etc. but Acacia auriculiformis had the highest frequency. The tree species with highest carbon sequestration was Gmelina arborea as recorded for this study. The total carbon and carbon dioxide sequestered in the study area were reported as 47.94 kg and 176.03 kg respectively.