Assessment of growth, biomass, and carbon sequestration potential of three urban tree species in Calabar
Keywords:
Biomass accumulation, urban forestry, allometric equations, carbon storage, ecological benefitsAbstract
Urban forests play a vital role in climate change mitigation by sequestering carbon and providing essential ecosystem services. This study assessed the growth, biomass accumulation, and carbon sequestration potential of three commonly planted urban tree species in Calabar, Nigeria: Azadirachta indica, Delonix regia, and Terminalia mantaly. A total of 100 trees per species were sampled across Calabar Municipality and Calabar South. Growth parameters, including diameter at breast height (DBH) and height, were recorded, and allometric equations were used to estimate aboveground biomass (AGB), aboveground carbon density (ACD), belowground carbon density (BCD), basal area (BA), and volume. Results indicated significant differences in DBH and height among species, with Terminalia mantaly exhibiting the highest values (DBH: 56.93 ± 3.42 cm; Height: 12.84 ± 0.26 m). However, AGB, ACD, BCD, BA, and volume did not differ significantly among species, despite Terminalia mantaly having the highest mean values. Strong positive correlations were observed between DBH and AGB (r = 0.87), ACD (r = 0.87), BCD (r = 0.87), BA (r = 0.89), and volume (r = 0.87), suggesting DBH as a key predictor of carbon sequestration potential. Conversely, tree height exhibited weak correlations with biomass parameters. The study highlights the comparable carbon sequestration potential of these species despite differences in growth traits, emphasizing the need for species-specific assessments to enhance urban forest planning. These findings contribute to sustainable urban management strategies aimed at maximizing the ecological benefits of urban trees.
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