Meenakshi Gupta , M. Saleem , L. M. Gupta

Abstract

Forests contribute to global climate change through their influence on the global carbon (C) cycle. The world's forests store an estimated 536 Giga tons of Carbon (GtC) in biomass, 1104GtC in soils (to a depth of 3m) and additional amounts in dead organic matter pools, including fine and coarse woody debris. Accounting for the imbalance in the global C cycle suggests that forests are not significantly contributing to the net increase in atmospheric CO₂ and thus not playing a major role in global climate change. But this may not continue into the future as temperate and boreal forests reach maturity and become a smaller C sink, and if rates of tropical deforestation and degradation continue to accelerate. Mitigation options by the forestry sector include extending carbon retention in harvested wood products, product substitution, and producing biomass for bio-energy. Aggressive adoption of these forest management options are necessary to prevent forests from becoming a significant net source of CO₂ to the atmosphere in the future and contributing to climate change.

Keywords

Carbon, Climatic Change, Forests, Mitigation

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M. Saleem , D. P. Singh

Abstract

Effect of coppicing at different heights on regeneration and subsequent biomass production of Albizia lebbek was studied using randomized block design with 10 trees per block and three replications. Seven pruning heights applied were 5 cm (ground level), 15 cm, 30 em, 45 em, 60 cm, 75 cm and 90 em. Investigations showed that 90 cm coppicing height resulted in increased biomass productions compared to coppicing at ground level. Results can be used for maximizing biomass production when managed as multi-stemmed shrub in agroforestry systems.

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