Can carbon be sequestered in Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens Cuvier 1825) habitats in Nepal?
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Forest carbon stock can provide alternative opportunity for the conservation of forests and biodiversity. Previous studies on red panda habitats in Nepal barely provide accurate information of carbon stock from those habitats which is critical for devising long term conservation plan for this species. Thus, the present study aims to document and describe carbon sequestration in red panda habitat to create the first-ever broad- scale scientific basis for the promotion of red panda conservation efforts with a limelight on carbon stock. Extensive field surveys conducted to record red panda presence only data in red panda range rural municipalities of Jajarkot district. A total of 261 red panda presence point were recorded and a quadrate of 10
m*10 m were laid to record the Diameter at Breast height (DBH) and height of trees. The study assessed the above ground and below ground tree biomass carbon stock. The above ground tree biomass was found 1952.49±1279.34 ton/ha whereas below ground tree biomass was 390.49±255.86 ton/ha. Likewise, above ground carbon stock was found 917.67±601.29 ton/ha and below ground was 183.53±120.25 ton/ha. Total carbon stock of the forest was 1101.21±721.55 ton/ha and CO2 equivalent is 4037.75±2645.68 ton/ha. This study gives way to link forest carbon stock and biodiversity conservation. Assessing the relationship between carbon stocks and biodiversity is important in understanding the trade-off between two major benefits of forest ecosystems. The study could be used as a background to suggest alternative strategies to conserve the red panda habitats, taking into account the social and economic concerns and climate change benefits from forests in low-income highland communities.
Keywords: Biodiversity conservation, Climate change, Governance, Deforestation and forest degradation.
ID: 3623924