Assessing the Biomass and Carbon Productivity of Pure Pinus willachiana Forest in Kumrat Valley, Pakistan

Forests provide valuable resources while also significantly reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the air. In addition to acting as carbon sinks, forests release carbon when there is land use for other purposes. This release of stored carbon occurs when biomass is removed from the forest. This study estimated the biomass and carbon stocks in pure Pinus wallichiana forest in the valley of Kumrat Dir Kohistan, Pakistan. The study area was divided into three different homogeneous strata. In each stratum 10 square shaped sample plots with plot size 0.1 hectare with fixed dimensions of (33 × 33 m) with a total of 30 sample plots were taken by following stratified random sampling method. To check the relationship of biomass and carbon stock with different parameter, regression models were developed. The results showed that in pure Pinus wallichiana forest, the biomass of upperstory vegetation have stored 465, 1.1 tC/ha in understory vegetation, deadwood, litter, cone have 10.92 tC/ha and soil have stored 63.23 tC/ha, with overall 540.25 t/ha of carbon. Ecological services in the region are provided by these natural coniferous forests, while maintaining carbon dioxide levels in the form of biomass. Results from this study will enhance to evaluate the role of these forests in regional and global C cycles, Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+), sustainable forest management and policy matters on climate change.