Influence of Anthropogenic Activities on Forest Carbon Stocks—A Case Study from Gori Valley, Western Himalaya

Soni Bisht, Surendra Singh Bargali (), Kiran Bargali, Gopal Singh Rawat, Yashwant Singh Rawat and Archana Fartyal
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Soni Bisht: Department of Botany, D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital 263001, Uttarakhand, India
Surendra Singh Bargali: Department of Botany, D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital 263001, Uttarakhand, India
Kiran Bargali: Department of Botany, D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital 263001, Uttarakhand, India
Gopal Singh Rawat: Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun 248001, Uttarakhand, India
Yashwant Singh Rawat: Department of Botany, D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital 263001, Uttarakhand, India
Archana Fartyal: Department of Botany, D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital 263001, Uttarakhand, India

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 24, 1-24

Abstract: Carbon stock assessment in various ecosystems is vital for monitoring the health of these ecosystems and national accounting for the United Nations convention on climate change. The influence of various anthropogenic drivers on carbon stock in different ecosystems has not been examined comprehensively. This study aims to determine the impact of anthropogenic pressures (lopping, cutting, grazing) on soil physico-chemical properties and carbon stock in four temperate broadleaf forests dominated by different species of oak, viz., Banj oak ( Quercus leucotrichophora ), Rianj oak ( Quercus lanuginosa ), Moru oak ( Quercus floribunda ) and Kharsu oak ( Quercus semecarpifolia ) along an elevation gradient from 1700–3000 m asl in Gori valley, western Himalaya. Biomass data were collected from 120 quadrats of 10 × 10 m size at three distinct altitudes (4 forest sites × 3 altitudes × 10 quadrats) and analysed for carbon stock, whereas soil samples were randomly collected in triplicate from three depths of each altitude of the forest site and further analysed for their physico-chemical properties. A total of 767 individual trees with a diameter of ≥31 cm were measured at twelve sites and standing biomass was estimated following the growing stock volume equations. Mean carbon stock was highest in Moru oak (396.6 ± 29.5 Mg C ha −1 ) and lowest in Banj oak forest (189.3 ± 48.6 Mg C ha −1 ). We also found soil to be the largest pool of forest carbon (43.0–59.7%) followed by aboveground biomass (31.5–45.0%), belowground biomass (8.4–11.7%) and litter (0.4–0.5%). The basal area showed significant effect on altitude and carbon stock, whereas disturbance showed significant ( p < 0.05) negative correlation with the total carbon stock. Soil nitrogen exhibited a significant positive correlation (R 2 = 0.60) with the basal area, indicating that nitrogen enhances tree growth and forest carbon stock. However, anthropogenic disturbance showed a significant negative impact on the basal area, soil nutrients and carbon stock of oak forests. This concludes that forest structure, anthropogenic pressure and soil parameters contribute to the carbon stock of the area. Considering the significance of these overexploited oak forests, it is recommended to conserve the old-growth forest species in the study area, since they have the highest carbon accumulation potential.

Keywords: altitudinal gradient; anthropogenic pressure; carbon stock; oak communities; regeneration; soil; vegetation composition (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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