Diversity, Structure and Carbon Stocks from Three Pools in the Kouoghap Sacred Forest, Hedgerows and Eucalyptus Plantations in the Batoufam Locality (West Cameroon)

Frederic C. Lounang Tchatchouang^1, , Cedric Chimi Djomo^{2, 3}, Vice Clothexe Tajeukem³, Paul Djibrillia⁴ and Joseph Youta Happi¹

¹Department of Geography, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, PO. BOX: 812, Cameroon

²Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD), PO. BOX: 2123, Cameroon

³Department of Plant Biology, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, PO. BOX: 812, Cameroon

⁴Department of Geography, University of Maroua, Maroua, PO. BOX: 814, Cameroon

Cite this paper:
Frederic C. Lounang Tchatchouang, Cedric Chimi Djomo, Vice Clothexe Tajeukem, Paul Djibrillia and Joseph Youta Happi. Diversity, Structure and Carbon Stocks from Three Pools in the Kouoghap Sacred Forest, Hedgerows and Eucalyptus Plantations in the Batoufam Locality (West Cameroon). Applied Ecology and Environmental Sciences. 2018; 6(4):160-169. doi: 10.12691/aees-6-4-7

Abstract

The aim of this study was to make an inventory of the trees and estimate hedgerows and eucalyptus plantations carbon stocks in comparison with that of the Kouoghap sacred forest which is the only landscape having retained its original character. This study was conducted in the sacred forest, hedgerows and Eucalyptus plantations, which are the predominant land use type of Batoufam locality. Inventory data of trees with diameter ≥10 cm were made in 5 transects of 800 m x 5 m for the sacred forest and 10 transects of 300m x 5m for hedgerows and Eucalyptus plantations. The above and below ground biomass of trees was estimated using allometric equations; that of litter collected in 30 square plots of 0.5m x 0.5m, was estimated by the destructive method. A total of 70 and 11 trees species were respectively recorded in the sacred forest and hedgerows. However, Eucalyptus plantations are monospecific (only one trees species was found). The Shannon index (3.51) showed a rich floristic diversity in the sacred forest and weak diversity in hedgerows (1.94). The abundance of trees decreases with the increase in diameter classes of the sacred forest and hedgerows therefore forming and irregular appearance in the Eucalyptus plantations. No significant difference was found between these three land use according to the carbon stocks which varied from 130 to 196 tC.ha^-1 for aboveground and from 31 to 47 tC.ha^-1 for belowground carbon. As compared to, that of litter which was significantly different between the sacred forest (6.40 tC.ha^-1), hedgerows (9.39 tC.ha^-1) and Eucalyptus plantations (10.96 tC.ha^-1). This study confirmed the conservation of biodiversity through sacred forest and also the need to take into account other types of lands use in policies to fight against climate changes given the amount of carbon they store.

Keywords:
landscapes types species richness carbon stocks Batoufam West Cameroon

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