Carbon Stock Estimation by Forest Measurement Contributing to Sustainable Forest Management in Cambodia

A simplified method for estimating CID,, emissions from deforestation is the calculation of carbon stock change by monitoring forest land and periodically summing up the land area and its averaged carbon stock for important forest types. As a feasibility study for applying this methodology to a tropical dry-land forest, we estimated carbon stock and its chronosequential change in 4 carbon Pools (aboveground and belowground biomass, deadwood, and litter) of tropical dry-land natural forests in Cambodia. Carbon stock differed among, forest types. Most of the carbon stock (84 +/- 12% (SD)) existed in free biomass. Growth of carbon stock has a positive relationship to the carbon stock itself. By moderately classifying forest types, determining averaged free biomass of each forest type, and Using land-area data oil each forest type, a reasonably accurate estimation of carbon stock call be expected. However, considering that rapidly progressing deforestation and wood extraction may reduce the carbon stock in forests, systematic sampling With a sufficieny number of extra plots and frequent Updating of forest land area and averaged carbon stock data arc vital for an accurate estimation of CO(2) emissions from forests under pressure of land-use change and forestry activities.