Yemane’s carbon sequestration capacity studied

The planting of trees to sequester carbon has been considered to be the most cost-effective and long-lasting strategy to address the global problem of increasing amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Scientists explain that the carbon captured from the atmosphere is stored in the tree’s biomass such as tree trunks, branches, foliage, and roots.

Dr. Leuvina Micosa-Tandug, Chief Science Research Specialist of the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-ERDB) based in College, Laguna, conducted the study “Biomass and carbon sequestration of Gmelina arborea Roxb.” to provide basic information for accurate and reliable estimate of the aboveground biomass and amount of carbon being sequestered in yemane trees.

The study aims to provide valuable inputs for the Clean Development Mechanism under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which is an amendment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Under the protocol, industrialized countries have committed to reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide and other green gases (e.g., methane, nitrous oxide, sulfur hexaflouride) or engage on emissions trading if they maintain or increase emissions of these gases. A report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change quoted the market price for sequestered carbon to be between US$ 10 and US$ 30 per ton.

The study seeks to utilize this carbon offset investments and carbon trading opportunities inasmuch as the country has vast tracts of open lands for the

establishment of tree plantations such as yemane, one of the best candidate species for the purpose.

The study revealed that stem wood has the highest percent of carbon in its biomass at 46.05%, followed by the foliage at 44.89%, and branches at 44.47%. Bark from the stem has the smallest amount of carbon at 44.53% in its biomass. On the average, a yemane tree can store 44.73% of carbon in its total biomass.

The study also showed that a yemane, having aboveground dry biomass of 25 kg has a stored biomass of 118.53 kg. If the roots are included, which often represent 10-40% of the total tree biomass, then the overall stored carbon would be between 130-200 kg.

On a per hectare basis, a yemane plantation having 1,000 trees, on the average, can store up to 200 t of carbon or an equivalent of 736 t of carbon dioxide that can be sequestered from the atmosphere.

Incidentally, the study won second place in the research category of the National Symposium on Agriculture and Resources Research and Development held by PCARRD last 10 November 2006 at the Dusit Hotel Nikko, Makati City. (Ricardo A. Argana, S&T Media Service)