Carbon sequestration potential of Qimbaba forest; Implications of managing forests for climate change mitigation

Abstract Climate change poses one of the most significant challenges humanity has ever encountered, potentially underpinning the ongoing global warming phenomenon. Tropical forests play a crucial role in mitigating climate change by absorbing and storing carbon from the atmosphere. However, there has been limited research on carbon sequestration and emission reduction in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the carbon stock of the Qimbaba forest non-destructively, utilizing 40 circular sample plots and an allometric equation. The results indicated that the total carbon stock of the plantation forest was estimated at 24.98 t/ha-1, with 20.34 ± 0.18 t/ha-1 attributed to natural trees and 4.64 ± 0.1 t/ha-1 to nurse trees. Above-ground carbon was calculated at 16.01 ± 0.14 t/ha-1 for natural forest and 3.65 ± 0.08 t/ha-1 for nurtured trees in the plantation forest. Below-ground carbon values were determined to be 4.32 ± 0.04 t/ha-1 for natural forests and 0.99 ± 0.21 t/ha-1 for nurse trees in plantation forests. The findings suggest that the Qimbaba forest significantly contributes to climate change mitigation. To capitalize on this potential and receive financial incentives, it is recommended to integrate the forest into programs such as REDD+ and CDM of the Kyoto Protocol.