TREE DIVERSITY AND CARBON SEQUESTRATION POTENTIAL IN FORESTRY EXPERIMENTAL FOREST OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINDANAO, DAVAO CITY, PHILIPPINES

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Current issue: Volume 25, No. 2 (2025)

TREE DIVERSITY AND CARBON SEQUESTRATION POTENTIAL IN FORESTRY EXPERIMENTAL FOREST OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINDANAO, DAVAO CITY, PHILIPPINES

Nadzer C. Abbas*, Julius Blademer S. Apostol, Gene Piolo D. Madrio, Maximo A. Dagatan Jr., Charlyn T. Gorgonio

DOI: https://doi.org/10.59893/abud.25(2).001

Abbas N.C., Apostol J.B.S., Madrio G.P.D., Dagatan Jr. M.A., Gorgonio C.T. 2025. Tree diversity and carbon sequestration potential in Forestry Experimental Forest of the University of Mindanao, Davao City, Philippines. Acta Biol. Univ. Daugavp., 2025(2): 175-189.  

Abstract

Forests play a crucial role in mitigating climate change through carbon sequestration. This study assessed tree diversity and the carbon sequestration potential of the Forestry Experimental Forest of the University of Mindanao, Davao City, Philippines, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations, which promote global environmental sustainability, particularly SDG Goals 13, Goal 13: Climate Action, and Goal 15: Life on Land. Tree diversity and carbon stock were analyzed using descriptive, quantitative, and correlation methods. A rectangular plot method with a 10% sampling intensity was established to measure the aboveground biomass in trees. Shannon-Weinner was used to determine the species diversity of the area, and the General Allometric Equation developed by Chave et al. (2014), was used to estimate the carbon stock. The study found 51 species, dominated by Pinus kesiya (Royle ex Gordon, 1840), with a moderate diversity index of 2.83, a high carbon stock of 62.51 Mg/ha, and a high species richness and evenness. P. kesiya (Royle ex Gordon, 1840) has the highest importance value index and a positive correlation between tree diversity and carbon stock. The drawn results encourage academic institutions and local communities to conserve and plant diverse trees to increase biodiversity. These findings are valuable for policymaking, symposiums, and future research.

Keywords: species diversity, carbon stock, aboveground biomass, allometric equation.

*Corresponding author: Nadzer C. Abbas. Environmental Studies Department, University of Mindanao, 8000, Davao City, Philippines. E-mail: n.abbas.485749@umindanao.edu.ph

Gene Piolo D. Madrio. Environmental Studies Department, University of Mindanao, 8000, Davao City, Philippines

Julius Blademer S. Apostol. Environmental Studies Department, University of Mindanao, 8000, Davao City, Philippines

Maximo A. Dagatan Jr. Environmental Studies Department, University of Mindanao, 8000, Davao City, Philippines

Charlyn T. Gorgonio. Institute of Biodiversity and the Environment, Professional Schools, University of Mindanao, 8000, Davao City, Philippines