Mapping of forest biomass and assessment of sequestered carbon in the forest reserve of upper Ouémé in Central Benin

Abstract

The Upper Ouémé gazetted forest in Central Benin is a potential carbon sink despite the anthropogenic pressures that threaten most forest ecosystems. This research aims to map the forest biomass and carbon stock sequestered by plant communities in the Upper Ouémé classified forest in Benin. To this end, a forest inventory was carried out in 73 circular plots of 18 m radius following the protocol of the National Forest Inventory (IFN). The main data collected were tree diameter and height. The 2018 OLI-TIRS landsat images through NDVI were used in combination with the in situ forest inventory data for the spatialization of biomass and sequestered carbon. The results obtained show that the total biomass produced by trees in the Upper Ouémé classified forest is around 13 035 694 tonnes with a total amount of sequestered carbon estimated at 6 348 383 tonnes. The spatial distribution of biomass and carbon shows higher amounts of biomass and carbon sequestered inside the gazetted forest compared to the periphery, especially in areas that are located along developed roads. It is therefore important to undertake conservation actions in forest in order to increase their carbon sequestration potential in mitigating the effects of climate change in Benin.