Conserving Carbon Stocks Under Climate Change: Importance of Trees Outside Forests in Agricultural Landscapes of Mongala Province, Democratic Republic of Congo
This study aimed to evaluate the role of trees outside forests on agricultural land (TOF-AL) in preserving the initial aboveground biomass (<i>AGB</i>) of forests within the agricultural landscape of Mongala province in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In 2024, tree inventories were con...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-03-01
|
| Series: | Earth |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4834/6/2/19 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | This study aimed to evaluate the role of trees outside forests on agricultural land (TOF-AL) in preserving the initial aboveground biomass (<i>AGB</i>) of forests within the agricultural landscape of Mongala province in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In 2024, tree inventories were conducted over four months in the forests and agricultural lands of Mongala province to analyse <i>AGB</i>. The effects of artisanal logging and charcoal production activities on the <i>AGB</i> conservation rate were considered. This study indicates that 78.3% of the trees encountered in agricultural lands were large-diameter trees (diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 60 cm). In forest areas, large-diameter trees accounted for 55.9% of tree density. The average <i>AGB</i>s are 66.8 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup> for TOF-AL and 373.5 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup> for forest trees. The <i>AGB</i> of TOF-AL accounts for 17.9% of the <i>AGB</i> of the total forest trees. The <i>AGB</i> conservation rates vary by region, with Lisala having the highest at 22.1%, Bumba the lowest at 11.2%, and Bongandanga at 20.5%. Artisanal logging and charcoal production reduce the <i>AGB</i> conservation rate of TOF-AL. The <i>AGB</i> conservation rate is positively correlated with the distances to major cities. These results prove that conserving trees in agricultural landscapes can reduce the <i>AGB</i> losses associated with slash-and-burn agriculture and contribute to mitigating climate change effects. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2673-4834 |