Patterns of Carbon Sequestration in Forests of Western Ghats and Study of Applicability of Remote Sensing in Generating Carbon Credits through Afforestation/Reforestation

Background

Using ground-based observations coupled with satellite remote sensing, this study aims to estimate the potential of the forests of Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary (Western Ghats, India) to sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide and to identify land which has the potential for reforestation activity under the Clean Development Mechanism.

Research Goals & Methods

Using Landsat TM (1989) and IRS LISS III (2003,2005) satellite images, the study area was classified into different land cover types: semi-evergreen forests, mixed moist deciduous forests, plantation (mainly Australian Acacias), degraded scrub and seasonal grassland/open area. In the field, 27 20x20m permanent sample plots were installed and each tree species and diameter was recorded for use in species-specific volume equations developed by Forest Survey of India. The trees were sampled again 21 months later.

Conclusions & Takeaways

It was observed that maximum girth increment was for mixed moist deciduous (highest elevation) which also had the highest per hectare biomass (209.25 t/ha). However, the acacia plantations demonstrated the highest percent carbon sequestration rates (20.27%). The average bole biomass for the entire study area (149.98 t/ha) was much higher than the average bole biomass of tropical dry forests of central India (27.44 t/ha) which the authors attribute to higher density forests and lower anthropogenic disturbance.