Carbon-related Services

This module focuses on measuring and modelling carbon storage and sequestration within the forests and woodlands of the Eastern Arc and on estimating the value of these services.

A network of forest plots has been set up by the project in the forests of the Udzungwa and West Usambara mountains to estimate carbon storage. These plots will be re-visited in 3 years to assess the rates of carbon sequestration in these mountains. A masters student in Tanzania will expand the plots to cover woodland habitats in the Udzungwa mountains.

In addition, through collaboration with York KITE project, a database has been developed of more than 2,500 forest plots in the Eastern Arc Mountains that have been geolocated and plotted within their respective forest areas. KITE in York have also developed a 'fire points' database for the region covering the years 2000-2007. These additional databases, together with the timber inventory data will be useful to develop a model of carbon storage across the Eastern Arc region.

The work is being led by the Sokoine University of Agriculture Department of Forestry and Nature Conservation in Tanzania and the Universities of York, Leeds and Cambridge in the UK.