Application of Allometric Models in Estimating Above- and Below-Ground Biomass Carbon Stock in Planted Forests of Congo

In Republic of Congo, the forest plantations are dominated by both exogenous and endogenous tree species. This study estimated carbon stocks for above- and below-ground biomass around the Bambou-Mingali forest plantations, in the Republic of Congo. It applied allometric equations to measure above- and below-ground biomass carbon stocks in six rectangular plots of 5000 m2 (200 m × 25 m). About 1763 trees were measured and recorded where 1360 trees were within the 10 - 20 cm diameter class, 385 trees within the 20 - 30 cm diameter class and 18 trees within the 30 - 40 cm diameter class. Furthermore, the average carbon stock was 144.9 t C ha−1 for aboveground biomass (AGB) or 81% and 33.8 t C ha−1 for belowground biomass (BGB), or 19%. Similarly, results also showed total carbon stocks in all biomass to be 869.7 t C for AGB and 203.3 t C for BGB. Bambou-Mingali forest plantations are an important carbon sink and can therefore play a key role in the creation of carbon sinks, climate change mitigation and emergence of the green economy in the Republic of Congo.