Response of Topographic and Biodiversity Variables on Biomass and Carbon Density in Community Forests of Himalayan Foot-hills

Abstract

Locality factors such as climatic, topographic, biotic, and edaphic characteristics largely govern the forests’ structure and composition and have a vital role in providing forest ecosystem services. The impact of locality factors on biomass production and carbon sequestration of forests varied with sites. The study assesses the responses of different topographic and biotic factors on forests’ biomass, soil organic carbon (SOC), and total carbon density (biomass and SOC) in Ghaledanda Ranakhola and Ludi Damgade Community Forests (CFs) of Gorkha district, Nepal. The generalized linear models were used employing the data from 89 sample plots of 250 m² size each to see whether there are significant differences between predictor and response variables under consideration. The result showed that forest structure, elevation, the sign of wildlife presence, and the slope has a significant influence on forest biomass and carbon mass. The SOC differ significantly with different elevation ranges and aspects in CFs. The higher the elevation, the more the SOC was found. Similarly, the total carbon density (biomass plus SOC) in forests significantly different with CFs, elevation, the sign of wildlife presence, and topographic slope. Moreover: the southern aspect harbored significantly lower SOC; signs of wildlife presence facilitates the higher carbon density; higher the elevation and steeper the slope the lower the carbon density in the forests and regeneration status, diversity (species richness), aspects showed insignificant influence in total carbon density. The results could provide insights for forests’ carbon balance under different attributes of topographic and biodiversity. Replication of similar research covering a broad geographical area could be useful to generalize the findings.