Floristic Inventory and Evaluation of Carbon Sequestration Potential of the Misomuni Forest Massif, Kikwit City (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

Authors

  • Masens Da-Musa Y.B. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Briki K. Cyril University of Kikwit, Kikwit, Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Masens Mandung Lumbi Higher Institute of Medical Techniques, Lumbi, Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Koto-Te-Nyiwa Ngbolua Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/jbr.v3i4.3505

Abstract

The aim of this study was to inventory plant biodiversity and to evaluate the carbon sequestration potential of the Misomuni forest massif. An inventory of all trees with diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥ 10 cm measured at 1.30 m height was performed. The aerial biomass (AGB) was used for estimating the stored CO2 and its carbon equivalent. 88 plant species belonging to 71 genera and 32 families were inventoried. Fabaceae family displayed the highest number of species and genera. The highest basal area values were displayed by Scorodophloeus zenkeri (7.34 ± 2.45 m2 /ha), Brachystegia laurentii (5.82 ± 1.94 m2 /ha), Entandrophragma utile (5.28 ± 1.94 m2 /ha), Pentadesma butyracea (4.53 ± 1.51 m2 /ha). The highest values of stored carbon and their carbon equivalent were observed in Pentadesma butyracea (15.13 ± 5.00 and 50.55 ± 16.85 t/ha), Picralima nitida (7.02 ± 2.34 and 23.66 ± 7.88 t/ha), Strombosia tetandra (6.56 ± 2.18 and 22.10 ± 7.36 t/ha). The Misomuni forest massif is thus much floristically diversified and plays a significant role in the sequestration of CO2. The total AGB of the inventoried trees is 183.78 ± 61.26 t/ha corresponding to stored carbon and carbon equivalent of 96.63 ± 32.21 t/ha and 289.92 ± 96.64 t/ha respectively. The protection of this ecosystem is highly needed for combatting climatic changes at local, national and regional scales and for the conservation biodiversity habitat.

Keywords:

Forest ecosystem; Plant biodiversity; Carbon sequestration; Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation project; Democratic Republic of the Congo

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How to Cite

Y.B., M. D.-M., Cyril, B. K., Mandung, M., & Ngbolua, K.-T.-N. (2021). Floristic Inventory and Evaluation of Carbon Sequestration Potential of the Misomuni Forest Massif, Kikwit City (Democratic Republic of the Congo). Journal of Botanical Research, 3(4), 11–21. https://doi.org/10.30564/jbr.v3i4.3505

Issue

Vol. 3 , Iss. 4 (October 2021)

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Article

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This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License.

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