Carbon accumulation and fixation in aerial biomass of Pinus oocarpa in natural forests in Honduras

Abstract

Carbon fixation could be the base of international payment for environmental services mechanisms. The accumulation and growth of aerial biomass as well as the carbon fixation associated to this growth has to be measured In order to establish these schemes. These were studied in 36,139.78 hectares of natural forests of Pinus oocarpa Schiede, the most frequent tree in Honduras, in Cabañas, Santa Ana y Opatoro in the Department of La Paz. A forest survey was done to collect the information on tree distribution in diameter at breast height as well as tree densities. The 71% of the aerial biomass was found in the stems and 21% in branches. The specific gravity of wood and bark was 0.55 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm3) and 0.53 g/cm3, respectively. The allometric equation with the best fitness for the total aerial biomass estimation was the Combined Logarithmic Equation. The aerial biomass accumulation per hectare and in the total area was estimated as well as the annual biomass growth. The chemical analysis of the aerial biomass samples of Pinus oocarpa showed that the carbon fraction was 51.8% dried weight basis. The carbon accumulation in Pinus oocarpa for the pine forest area of cabañas, Opatoro and Santa Ana was estimated in 913,925.50 metric tons, with an annual CO2 sequestration of 105,989.86 metric to