Assessment of species diversity, biomass, and carbon stock in mangrove forests of Prey Nop District, Preah Sihanouk Province, Cambodia

AbstractMangroves are important for supporting various marine species and other marine organisms, serving as important breeding grounds and nursery grounds for many important fish species. Overexploitation of mangroves has had a serious impact on marine resources and the livelihoods of people who depend on these resources. According to data from the Fisheries Administration in 2010, approximately 78,405 hectares of mangroves remain. The objectives of this study were to 1) conduct a forest inventory to identify plant species and 2) assess carbon stocks in the study area. The study used the Cambodian National Forest Inventory method, 9 sample plots using circular plots with a radius of 20 m. The results identified nine tree species in the study area: <i>Rhizophora apiculata, Lumnitzera racemosa, Excoecaria agallocha, Avicennia alba, Ceriops decandra, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Bruguiera cylindrica, Sonneratia ovata and Sonneratia alba</i>. There was an average of 1,770 ± 268.39 trees per hectare (with DBH ≥ 5 cm). Carbon stocks were estimated to be 46.7 Mg C/ha, equivalent to 171.2 Mg CO₂/ha, with a standard error of 47.4. Overall, <i>Excoecaria agallocha, Lumnitzer racemose, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza </i>were the dominant mangrove species, and carbon stocks ranged from 26.9 - 66.5 Mg of carbon per hectare. This study highlights the important ecological and economic importance of mangroves, emphasizing the need for sustainable management to conserve these important resources.<b>Keywords:</b> Above ground biomass, Below ground biomass, Carbon, Species diversity, Mangrove Forest