Emission Mitigation from Sacred Forests on Addressing Climate Action Goals in the North Pare Mountains, Tanzania

Forest carbon storage is among the indicators of climate change mitigation potential and contributes to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 13 (climate action) through forest ecosystems. Sacred forests play a significant role in carbon sequestration but are often overlooked in carbon monitoring in Tanzania, where state-managed forests receive more attention. Assessing the carbon storage potential of these culturally managed forests is critical for understanding their role in emission reduction and climate action within the SDG framework. This study quantifies above-ground biomass and carbon stocks in sacred forests, comparing spiritually sacred forests with traditional training forests, and evaluates the contributions of dominant species to carbon density. The study was conducted in five sacred forests in Tanzania’s North Pare Mountains using 23 plots (0.08 ha) along randomly established transects. Tree diameter was measured, and biomass was estimated using linear allometric models. Carbon content was assumed to be 50% of biomass. The average carbon density across all forests was 211.6 t C ha⁻¹ (776.6 t CO₂-eq ha⁻¹), with considerable variation between sites. Kiwia forest exhibited the highest density (518.5 t C ha⁻¹), followed by Mangio (238.1 t C ha⁻¹), Motingi (151.6 t C ha⁻¹), Rigilia (81.1 t C ha⁻¹), and Mbale (68.8 t C ha⁻¹). No significant difference in carbon density was found between spiritually sacred and traditional training forests. Seven species out of 134 accounted for over 60% of the total carbon stock. Macaranga kilimandscharica, dominant in Kiwia and present in other forests, contributed the most, followed by Xymalos monospora, Manilkara densiflora, Albizia schimperiana, Newtonia buchanannii, Tabernaemontana pachysiphon, Syzygium guineense, and Albizia gummifera. These findings highlight the substantial carbon mitigation potential of sacred forests in the North Pare Mountains, essential for SDG 13. Conservation of these forests is crucial for enhanced climate change mitigation and sustainable development.