Carbon stock dynamics in Sheka forest biosphere reserve, Ethiopia: A 60-year trajectory (1990–2050) and its implications for ecosystem services and conservation

Biosphere reserves are intended to conserve ecosystems and enhance carbon sequestration, yet their long-term effectiveness remains understudied. This study aimed to evaluate carbon stock changes in Ethiopia’s Sheka Forest Biosphere Reserve from 1990 to 2050, along with their implications for ecosyst...

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Autores principales: Bernhau, Yericho, Dalle, Gemedo, Workeneh, Dejene Sintayehu, Kelboro, Girma, Nigussie, Abebe, Gitma, Ginjo
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Elsevier BV 2025
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178924
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author Bernhau, Yericho
Dalle, Gemedo
Workeneh, Dejene Sintayehu
Kelboro, Girma
Nigussie, Abebe
Gitma, Ginjo
author_browse Bernhau, Yericho
Dalle, Gemedo
Gitma, Ginjo
Kelboro, Girma
Nigussie, Abebe
Workeneh, Dejene Sintayehu
author_facet Bernhau, Yericho
Dalle, Gemedo
Workeneh, Dejene Sintayehu
Kelboro, Girma
Nigussie, Abebe
Gitma, Ginjo
author_sort Bernhau, Yericho
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Biosphere reserves are intended to conserve ecosystems and enhance carbon sequestration, yet their long-term effectiveness remains understudied. This study aimed to evaluate carbon stock changes in Ethiopia’s Sheka Forest Biosphere Reserve from 1990 to 2050, along with their implications for ecosystem services and conservation. Forty-nine plots were established along three transects to evaluate vegetation structure and soil characteristics. Woody species diversity was measured using the Shannon–Wiener diversity index, and carbon stocks were estimated via allometric equations and the Walkley-Black method. Future land use and carbon stock changes were projected using the CA-Markov and InVEST model, respectively. Results show that live trees held the highest carbon stock (295.48±43.24 tons C ha⁻¹), followed by soil organic carbon (279.48±8.73 tons C ha⁻¹), with lesser contributions from litter, stumps, and deadwood. Carbon stock was positively correlated with woody species diversity and varied significantly by topography and land use type. From 1999 to 2020, total carbon stock declined by 2.5 tons C ha⁻¹ per year, with projections suggesting an increased annual loss of 3.1 tons C ha⁻¹ through 2050. Carbon stock continues to decline despite the designation of biosphere reserves, even though forests are essential for carbon storage, biodiversity, and ecosystem functions. Enhanced conservation measures such as halting deforestation, promoting community-based forest management, and encouraging sustainable resource use are critical to reversing this trend and sustaining ecosystem services.
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spelling CGSpace1789242025-12-19T13:52:23Z Carbon stock dynamics in Sheka forest biosphere reserve, Ethiopia: A 60-year trajectory (1990–2050) and its implications for ecosystem services and conservation Bernhau, Yericho Dalle, Gemedo Workeneh, Dejene Sintayehu Kelboro, Girma Nigussie, Abebe Gitma, Ginjo biodiversity climate change mitigation ecosystem services carbon capture and storage Biosphere reserves are intended to conserve ecosystems and enhance carbon sequestration, yet their long-term effectiveness remains understudied. This study aimed to evaluate carbon stock changes in Ethiopia’s Sheka Forest Biosphere Reserve from 1990 to 2050, along with their implications for ecosystem services and conservation. Forty-nine plots were established along three transects to evaluate vegetation structure and soil characteristics. Woody species diversity was measured using the Shannon–Wiener diversity index, and carbon stocks were estimated via allometric equations and the Walkley-Black method. Future land use and carbon stock changes were projected using the CA-Markov and InVEST model, respectively. Results show that live trees held the highest carbon stock (295.48±43.24 tons C ha⁻¹), followed by soil organic carbon (279.48±8.73 tons C ha⁻¹), with lesser contributions from litter, stumps, and deadwood. Carbon stock was positively correlated with woody species diversity and varied significantly by topography and land use type. From 1999 to 2020, total carbon stock declined by 2.5 tons C ha⁻¹ per year, with projections suggesting an increased annual loss of 3.1 tons C ha⁻¹ through 2050. Carbon stock continues to decline despite the designation of biosphere reserves, even though forests are essential for carbon storage, biodiversity, and ecosystem functions. Enhanced conservation measures such as halting deforestation, promoting community-based forest management, and encouraging sustainable resource use are critical to reversing this trend and sustaining ecosystem services. 2025-11-20 2025-12-17T13:19:42Z 2025-12-17T13:19:42Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178924 en Open Access application/pdf Elsevier BV Berhanu, Y.; Dalle, G.; Workeneh, D. S.; Kelboro, G.; Nigussie, A.; Gitma, G. (2025) Carbon stock dynamics in Sheka forest biosphere reserve, Ethiopia: A 60-year trajectory (1990–2050) and its implications for ecosystem services and conservation. Scientific African 30: e03104. ISSN: 2468-2276
spellingShingle biodiversity
climate change mitigation
ecosystem services
carbon capture and storage
Bernhau, Yericho
Dalle, Gemedo
Workeneh, Dejene Sintayehu
Kelboro, Girma
Nigussie, Abebe
Gitma, Ginjo
Carbon stock dynamics in Sheka forest biosphere reserve, Ethiopia: A 60-year trajectory (1990–2050) and its implications for ecosystem services and conservation
title Carbon stock dynamics in Sheka forest biosphere reserve, Ethiopia: A 60-year trajectory (1990–2050) and its implications for ecosystem services and conservation
title_full Carbon stock dynamics in Sheka forest biosphere reserve, Ethiopia: A 60-year trajectory (1990–2050) and its implications for ecosystem services and conservation
title_fullStr Carbon stock dynamics in Sheka forest biosphere reserve, Ethiopia: A 60-year trajectory (1990–2050) and its implications for ecosystem services and conservation
title_full_unstemmed Carbon stock dynamics in Sheka forest biosphere reserve, Ethiopia: A 60-year trajectory (1990–2050) and its implications for ecosystem services and conservation
title_short Carbon stock dynamics in Sheka forest biosphere reserve, Ethiopia: A 60-year trajectory (1990–2050) and its implications for ecosystem services and conservation
title_sort carbon stock dynamics in sheka forest biosphere reserve ethiopia a 60 year trajectory 1990 2050 and its implications for ecosystem services and conservation
topic biodiversity
climate change mitigation
ecosystem services
carbon capture and storage
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178924
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