Quantification of Above Ground Biomass (AGB) and Carbon Stock, Help to Mitigate Climate Change in the Western Plateau Forest Division of Jharkhand

Forest volume inventories are a valuable source of data for estimating above-ground biomass (AGB) density and the carbon stored in the biomass of forests. Variation in tree biomass and carbon stocks (Cp) in tropical forests is vital at both regional and global scales to know their contribution to the global C cycle. In the present study, six forest divisions of the western plateau, part of agroclimatic sub-zone V- sub-humid to subtropical, Jharkhand, have been selected to assess the above-ground biomass and carbon stocks. A total of 90 quadrats (10 m X 10 m) were sampled in 90 grids of six forests division of Jharkhand for all trees ( ≥10 cm GBH) species using a stratified random sampling method. The size of the grid was 5 km x 5 km; each grid, one quadrat has laid down. A total of 15 quadrats were laid down in each forest division. Tree species diversity, stand basal area, and density is calculated through the standard method. AGB of all documented trees were estimated using non-destructive method, and AGB to carbon conversions for Cp was performed according to the guidelines established in the IPCC 2006. The total AGB and Cp were recorded 255.24 Mg ha -1 and 119.96 Mg C ha -1 in the studied forest, ranging from 13.68 Mg ha -1 and 6.43 Mg C ha -1 (Garhwa North Forest division) to 77.92 Mg ha -1 and 36.62 Mg C ha -1 (Medini-nagar forest division). A significant positive relationship has been observed between AGB and basal area indicates that basal area is a major contributor of AGB. However r 2 is very high for Lohardaga (r 2 =0.99, p < 0.05), while moderately r 2 has been observed in Medininagar (r 2 = 0.48, p < 0.05) due to medium and low girth size of trees.