Biosequestration potential of trees outside forest in the plains of District Samba, J&K, India

There is a growing awareness all over the world about the various adverse impacts of green house gas emission and the consequent climate change. Trees absorb CO2 from the atmosphere and store the carbon in their trunk, branches and roots. Generally, extensive tree wealth exists outside continuous forested areas in every country termed as ‘Trees Outside Forests’ (TOF) which also serve as the world’s most important carbon sink. The present study was conducted in the plains of district Samba, J&K. On the basis of classification, the classes of TOF selected for the study in the area were agriculture fields, strips along the link roads, distributaries/canals, defence ditches as well as sample plots in sacred groves. Out of the total growing stock, biomass and carbon sequestered in the study area, sacred groves accounted for the highest values for growing stock (497.95 m3/ha), biomass (257.13 t/ha) and carbon (123.43 t/ha) followed by agricultural fields i.e. growing stock (17.61 m3/ha ) biomass (9.19 t/ha) and carbon (4.5 t/ha) whereas least in case, along defence ditches i.e. growing stock (0.73 m3/ha) biomass (0.41 t/ha) and carbon (0.19 t/ha). Among all the tree species in the study area Ficus benghalensis showed highest value of average growing stock, biomass and carbon followed by Ficus religiosa.

Abstract licence: CC BY-NC

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