ECONOMIC ESTIMATION OF CARBON STORAGE AND SEQUESTRATION AS ECOSYSTEM SERVICES OF PROTECTED AREAS: A CASE STUDY OF LOBEKE NATIONAL PARK

Abstract

Although national parks are known for their high capacity of carbon storage and sequestration, few studies have been dedicated to determine the monetary value of this ecosystem service. Accordingly, this study aims to assign monetary values to this service in a protected area, the Lobeke National Park, located in southeast Cameroon. Flora diversity, carbon storage and sequestration in biomass of the park were assessed in 37 transects. A total of 71,725 trees, diameter at breast height ≥ 5 cm, from 76 families, 156 genera and 217 species were harvested. Ebenaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Dichostemma glaucescens, Mareyopsis longifolia, Diospyros suaveolens and Diospyros crassiflora were the most abundant taxa. Above ground biomass (AGB) was estimated at 318.04 tons ha^-1 and below ground biomass (BGB) at 56.16 tons ha^-1. AGB varied significantly between types of land used (p < 0.001). Carbon stock varied significantly with DBH and basal area (p < 0.001). The total carbon throughout the park was evaluated at 81,520,966.8 tons corresponding to over 298 million tons of CO₂ sequestrated by the park. The value of the service of carbon sequestration was evaluated at 1,434,769,015.68 USD. The Lobeke National Park is designated as a carbon sink in Africa.