Carbon stock evaluation in upland forests: A case study in Santipheap commune, Siem Pang district, Virachey National Park, Stung Treng province

Forests play a crucial role in mitigating climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide (a major greenhouse gas) from the atmosphere, utilizing it for growth and producing renewable resources. A significant amount of carbon is stored in trees, but when they are cut down and decompose, some of the carbon is released back into the atmosphere. Deforestation not only contributes to CO₂ emissions but also reduces the potential for carbon sequestration. Given the ongoing decline in forest areas, the Cambodian government has enacted forest laws to ensure sustainable forest management and strengthen protection for natural forests. The General Department of Nature Protection and Conservation Administration (Ministry of Environment), Forestry Administration, and Fisheries Administration (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries) are responsible for implementing the REDD+ program, with support from relevant institutions and development partners. Cambodia has achieved several significant milestones, including the establishment of a national REDD+ institutional framework, a national REDD+ strategy, a forest reference level, a national forest monitoring system, and a REDD+ security information system. This study assessed the carbon stock across different forest types in Cambodia, showing that the average total density of evergreen, semi-evergreen, and deciduous forests is influenced by the richness of seedlings and species. Specifically, evergreen forests have an average total carbon stock of 161.05 tons of carbon/ha, with 1.46 tons of deadwood carbon/ha. Semi-evergreen forests have 72.62 tons of carbon/ha and 8.85 tons of deadwood carbon/ha, while deciduous forests have 57.34 tons of carbon/ha and 3.73 tons of deadwood carbon/ha.