Carbon stock potential of the Gole community-managed forest and implications for climate-change mitigation

Abstract

Addressing the impacts of climate change is a global challenge that requires effective carbon sequestration strategies. Despite the recognised importance of community-managed forests in carbon storage, quantification of their carbon stock potential is limited, particularly for the Gole community-managed forest in southern Ethiopia. Understanding these dynamics is crucial to optimise forest management as a climate-change mitigation strategy. This study therefore evaluated the carbon stock potential of the Gole community-managed forest. Forest inventory data were collected using a systematic sampling approach with a nested plot design. Carbon stocks in aboveground biomass, belowground biomass, litter and soil organic matter were estimated using standard allometric equations and established carbon-stock laboratory analysis methods. The results indicate an average carbon stock of 409.361 t ha⁻¹, equivalent to 1 502.355 t CO₂. The carbon pools were distributed as follows: 344.769 t in trees, 0.232 t in shrubs, 4.608 t in dead wood, 2.072 t in litter, herbs and grasses, and 57.68 t in soil. The findings underline that community-managed forests have significant potential for carbon sequestration and climate-change mitigation. Strengthening community forest management could therefore enhance ecosystem services and contribute to national climate policies.