Agroforestry parklands and carbon sequestration in tropical Sudanese region of Togo

Abstract

The aims of this research was to estimate total carbon stock of the agroforestry system in the Sudanese tropical region of Togo. Physical measurements (height, diameter, and tree density) of trees in major agroforestry parklands were carried out on random quadrat (900 m2) samples. The total biomass carbon stock was computed following the tropical dry area allometric equation as suggested by Brown (1997). Results showed that recorded total carbon stock in agroforestry systems species in the study zone was 81.2 t ha?1 with Adansonia digitata, Parkia biglobosa, Sterculia setigera and Vitelaria paradoxa tree species respectively accumulated 34.7 t ha-1, 20.1 t ha-1, 8.4 t ha-1, and 3.9 t ha-1. The A. digitata parkland (mature one) has shown the highest total carbon stock (16.9 t ha-1), whereas the low values occurred in young parkland (0.23 t ha-1). Among the five parklands of the study zone, high carbon stock accumulated in Diameter at Brest Height (DBH) class ranging from [0-10] to [30-40]. The agroforestry system in the study zone could contribute to improving the functionality of the whole ecosystem by its substantial capacity to sequester carbon. In the context of reducing global warming with the objective to improve country income through the green and clean mechanism of ecosystems; agroforestry systems could be efficiently promoted by adhering to Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation project (REDD+) and to clean development mechanism (CDM). Keywords: Agroforestry, above-below ground biomass, carbon stock, Togo