Comparing Aboveground Carbon Sequestration of Three Economically Important Bamboo Species Grown in Bukidnon, Philippines

Abstract

Bamboo is widely distributed in the Philippines. As a non-timber forest product with a wide-ranging economic importance, bamboo has attracted the attention of ecologists because of its versatility in terms of ecological services including carbon sequestration and its potential to mitigate climate change. This paper assessed the carbon sequestration potential of three economically important bamboo species grown in plantations in Bukidnon, Philippines. Aboveground biomass (leaves, twigs and branches, and culms) and carbon densities of plantations of Dendrocalamus asper, Bambusa blumeana and Bambusa vulgaris were determined. D. asper statistically ( ∝=0.01) had the highest aboveground biomass density with 177.6 t ha-1 while B. vulgaris had the lowest density with 72.2 t ha-1. Aboveground biomass of the three species yielded an average organic carbon content of 47.38% with D. asper having the highest at 48.71%. Consequently, D. asper statistically (∝=0.01) had the highest aboveground carbon stored with an average of 86.7 tC ha-1, followed by B. blumeana with 46.1 tC ha-1 and B. vulgaris with 33.4 tC ha-1. Considering the potential of these bamboo species to store atmospheric carbon, there is a need to propose policies that strongly advocate the establishment of bamboo plantation-related projects in the country as an alternative course of action that can mitigate the impacts of global warming and climate change. Planting and managing bamboo plantations are recommended utilizing species like D. asper which has the potential to sequester relatively higher amount of carbon. Keywords : biomass, climate, ecological, plantations, warming