Abstract
It is being increasingly realized that the forests play a critical role in global carbon cycle and after significant potential to capture carbon and thus could play important role in climate change mitigation. In this background, based on growing stock of forest available in Ranchi district of Jharkhand State of India, carbon budget was prepared and comparing the past figures of growing stock; temporal carbon dynamics was also analysed. The above analysis leads to the carbon stored in the forest (Sal stratum) has decreased from 1981 to 1996, but it has increased in the forest (Misc. stratum). This suggests for mixed forest, which are otherwise also desirable for ecologically reasons – are doing better, compared to some what amonoculture “Sal” forest. This gives a lead to think about possible changes in current forest management approach, as the miscellaneous forest are doing better in given constraints. The study also hints for more efforts on plantation in poorly stocked forest areas i.e. “Open canopy” and “Scrub” forests – which can help in sequestering more carbon as well. Also by using wood preservation treatments, the service life of wood used in the district can be increased to 3.07 times.
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