Carbon Sequestration by the Above Ground Biomass Pool in the South West Mau Forest of Kenya, 1985 - 2015

Abstract

Forests are important for regulation of the global carbon balance. Increase in forest biomass enhances atmospheric carbon sequestration while decrease in forest biomass contributes to carbon dioxide emissions. World over, forest biomass has been declining due to forest loss and degradation. The South West Mau has experienced significant forest loss since 1964. The decline is posited to have significant impacts on carbon sequestration, carbon storage, carbon dioxide emissions and status of atmospheric carbon dioxide. This study assessed interannual trend and variability as well as change point detection in carbon sequestration in South West Mau Forest, Kenya between 1985 and 2015. Above ground biomass carbon sequestration was quantified based on the Carnegie-Ames-Stanford Approach (CASA) and carbon fraction for tropical climate domain. Carbon sequestration dynamics were characterized by increase-decrease cycles of approximately 3 years and low interannual variability (CV= 9.13). It emerged that South West Mau Forest was a net carbon emitter with a carbon sequestration balance of -588.40 Kg/ha between 1985 and 2015.