Plant Diversity and Carbon Storage Potential Across Different Land Use Types in Infrastructure Development Landscapes in Cameroon: Implications for no Net Loss of Biodiversity

This study investigated biodiversity change and carbon storage potential of different land use types in infrastructure development landscapes in Cameroon, focusing on the Dibombe Hydropower Project area in the Littoral Region of the Country. Line transects were used to collect flora inventory data in seven different land use types. We assessed flora diversity, aboveground biomass (AGB), and the presence of threatened species across various land use types, including riparian forests, cocoa plantations, fallow land, and croplands. Our findings reveal rich biodiversity across the study area, with forests harbouring the highest species diversity (159 species, Simpson Diversity Index of 0.92). Cocoa plantations also showed significant diversity (136 species, Simpson Index of 0.89), suggesting their potential role in restoration of degraded landscapes and biodiversity conservation. Riparian forests haboured the highest AGB of 100 tons/ha, highlighting their importance for carbon sequestration. The study identified two endangered species, Guibourtia tessmannii and Microberlinia bisulcata and 23 vulnerable species, underscoring the conservation value of the ecosystem. The high presence of cocoa agroforest with rich biodiversity potential demonstrates their potential for integrating biodiversity conservation. Our results emphasize the significance of a landscape-level approach to biodiversity offsetting stating that the combination of biodiversity rich land use types with high carbon storage land use types can serve as a model in offsetting biodiversity loss within large infrastructure development landscapes under minimal construction impacts. The study provides valuable insights for policymakers and project developers in designing effective NNL approaches including accounting for carbon stock in conservation aims and promotion the use of agroforestry systems in restoration of degraded landscapes and biodiversity conservation.