BIOMASS AND CARBON SEQUESTRATION ESTIMATION OF TREE SPECIES IN PUNIT VAN, GANDHINAGAR

Abstract

The most significant greenhouse gas on earth is carbon dioxide, which both absorbs and radiates heat. Earth’s temperature is increasing because of greenhouse gases and other human activities. The process of removing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is known as carbon sequestration. It is the only way to lessen atmospheric carbon dioxide in an effort to slow down the rate of climate change. The chosen study area for the research work is PUNIT VAN, located in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India. Gandhinagar city is also known as Green city, because of the diversity in vegetation and rich biodiversity. The study was conducted with quadrate random sampling method. There were 20 quadrates taken of 10 m². Total area of Punit van is 14.70 hectare. In the research, 27 species, including 317 individuals have been recorded in Punit Van. The field data of the trees analyzed using the random sampling of quadrate method, which shows that the dominant tree species in each quadrate is Azardirachta indica as total of 68 tree species in 13 quadrates. While the least dominant species found in only 1 quadrate were Ailanthus excelsa Roxb., Dalbergia latifolia, Ficus benghalensis, Holopteria integrifolia, Madhuca longifolia, Mangifera indica, Milletia peguensis, Peltophorum pterocarpum, Saraca asoca, Strychnos nux-vomica with the total number of species 1, 1, 4, 5, 7, 6, 3, 6, 13, 7 respectively. Total 41.5 tones carbon sequestered in a hectare.