How much carbon can MFU forest capture?
Climate change is one of the biggest global problems posing challenges to sustainable livelihoods and economic development, particularly in developing countries like Thailand. Mae Fah Luang University (MFU) has the potential to make contribution in climate mitigation through its reforestation project.
Since its inauguration in 1998, MFU has adhered to the King's Mother, Her Royal Highness Princess Srinagarindra’s philosophy in “Restoring the Forest to Improve Human Livelihoods”. For 16 years, MFU has reclaimed the green area that now occupied more than 85% of the land. To measure the fruit of efforts, MFU has put in place a University research to support climate mitigation strategies.
The objective of the project “Forest Biodiversity and Carbon Stock Inventory in MFU” is to:
study forest biodiversity surrounds the campus,
assess the potential of carbon sequestration, specifically in terms of aboveground biomass and carbon stock,
and
evaluate the value of the carbon stock in aboveground biomass in terms of baht/ha.
A team from the Institute for the Study of Natural Resources and Environmental Management (NREM) and Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation and Royal Forest Department set 32 permanent 20x50m plots between 23 June and 24 September, 2014. The plots were distributed systematically. A conventional plot measurement was carried out to document species and diameter at breast height (dbh) and height of sample trees in the plots to determine tree species compositions and stocking parameters. Aboveground biomass will then be calculated by summing the stem, branches and leaf mass of individual trees, using the algometric equations.
It is expected that the research will serve as an example of forest measurement and strengthen the methodologies for estimating carbon stocks and emissions. In addition, the results will be fed back to the ongoing priority programs, such as the tree planting for conservation activities and educational purposes that contribute to sustainable management of forests and biodiversity on MFU campus and beyond. This project also gives an opportunity for our international graduate students to participate in the fieldwork and have a first-hand experience on the biodiversity found in Thailand. Preliminary results showed that the dominant species of the trees found in the mixed deciduous forest of MFU are Wrightia arborea (Dennst.) Mabb., Colona flagrocarpa (C.B. Clarke), Albizia odoratissima (L.f.) Benth Vitex canescens Kurz., and Dendrocalamus strictus (Roxb.) Nees. Race species of trees that were detected in the project are Dalbergia oliveri Gamble, Pterocarpus indicus Willd, and Gmelina arborea Roxb.