Avaliação da biodiversidade, quantidade de carbono e estoque da biomassa da floresta comunitária de Acodemuzo na Maganja da Costa

Abstract

Tropical forests are responsible for storing large amounts of carbon, however, they are more vulnerable to the impacts of logging, fires and fragmentation. Thus, quantifying carbon in these forests allows us to develop effective measures to mitigate deforestation and promote carbon storage. This enables better forest management, in a rational and sustainable way, maximizing the benefits of carbon sequestration and minimizing environmental, socioeconomic and cultural losses resulting from the unsustainable use of forests. Thus, this research aims to evaluate the floristic composition, horizontal and vertical structure and estimate carbon stocks in the community forest in the district of Maganja da Costa, province of Zambézia. The data were provided by Miombo Consultores Ltd a, which were obtained through the stratified random sampling method. Based on a stratified random sampling, 84 rectangular plots of 20×50 m were established and all trees with DBH greater than or equal to 5 cm were measured. Tree carbon was estimated using allometric equations. The results show that the species Diplorhynchus condylocarpon and Brachystegia boehmii were the most abundant species. The forest has an inverted “J” shape, with a greater number of trees in the smaller diameter class and a smaller number of trees with a larger diameter. Brachystegia spiciformis had the highest IVI (32.51%), suggesting a high capacity of the species to colonize this ecosystem. In a total area of 37,895ha, a total of 144,1050 tons/ha of C was estimated to be stored above ground, revealing the great potential of this forest for mitigating climate change.