Volume yield, tree species diversity and carbon storage of sacred groves in Southwestern Nigeria
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Recently, the role of sacred groves in biodiversity conservation and provision of ecosystem goods and services has been a subjected to scientific investigation. In this study, data were collected from four sacred groves (Osun‐Osogbo, Igbo‐Olodumare, Idanre Hills and Ogun‐Onire) in southwestern, Nigeria to investigate their volume yield, tree species diversity, biomass and carbon storage potentials. Data were collected from 32 sample plots of 20 m x 40 m, established across the four sacred groves. In each plot, all woody plants with dbh ≥10cm were identified and their growth variables (dbh and height) measured. Non‐destructive allometric equation method was adopted for the estimation of volume, biomass and carbon stock production. The number of families and tree species encountered in the groves (understory and overstory layers) ranged from 22 to 32 and 41 to 85, respectively. The four groves had high Shannon‐Wiener diversity index (2.63 ‐ 3.55). They had high volume yield (244.99 m3 ha‐1 to 343.08 m3 ha‐1), biomass production (87.8 t ha‐1 to 231.86 t ha‐1) and carbon stock (43.9 t ha‐1 to 115.9 t ha‐1), with potentials for continuous growth as evidenced by the presence of young trees in the lower canopy. Thus, besides being good biodiversity conservation method, sacred groves act as sink of atmospheric CO2 considering their high biomass and carbon accumulation. The use and protection of sacred groves by indigenous people has enhanced tree species diversity, improved carbon sequestration and production of other forests ecosystem goods and services, thereby mitigating climate change and its effects.
Keywords: Biomass, Climate change, Carbon stock, Carbon sequestration, sacred forest and Traditional methods
ID: 3605244