Tree Diversity and the Improved Estimate of Carbon Storage for Traditional Agroforestry Systems in North East India
Milon Das, Panna Chandra Nath, Demsai Reang, Arun Jyoti Nath, Ashesh Kumar Das
Abstract
Studies across the world suggest agricultural intensification has been responsible for net gains in human well-being and economic development, but with an increasing cost of degradation of natural resources. The traditional agroforestry systems have been increasingly recognized for its contributions to the sustainable intensification of food production while providing several additional benefits to society. The lack of standard protocol for precise estimation of biomass and carbon storage of traditional agroforestry systems might have undermined the actual potential of such systems in climate change adaptation and mitigation. Therefore, the present study was conducted in an age-old traditionally managed Piper betle agroforestry system (PAS) from North East India. The study aimed (i) to estimate the specific gravity (SG) and carbon content (CC) of dominant tree species, and (ii) to establish the relationship of SG, CC, and biomass increment rates for dominant tree species in PAS. A total of 44 tree species with a stem density of 1255 stems ha-1 was recorded under the PAS. The diversity index of 3.75 estimated for PAS indicate the traditionally managed agro-ecosystem is more diverse than much tropical and sub-tropical agroforestry and forest ecosystems across the world. The estimated SG and CC ranged from 0.35-0.83 g cm-3, 42.7-48.9% respectively. A positive correlation between SG and CC for dominant tree species may facilitate future prediction of CC for other tree species using the allometric model. The present study suggests a preference for median growth rate tree species for incorporation in future agroforestry expansion or social forestry program may enhance provisioning ecosystem services and nature conservancy.