Alfredo a Jimenez

Volume, aerial biomass, and carbon content for Pinus occidentalis, Pinus caribaea var. Caribaea, Swietenia mahagoni and Swietenia macrophylla Alfredo a Jimenez

To understand the carbon cycle, particularly the impacts of human activities on the accumulation and flow of carbon dioxide (CO2) from and towards natural deposits, is critical for tackling climate change. Main challenge to overcome in the first instance, it is the development of the necessary tools for a correct quantification and monitoring of CO2, considered to be the main greenhouse gas from anthropogenic origins. To quantify carbon storage in forest biomass within the area of influence of Plan Sierra, an NGO that has been working continuously since 1980 in the restoration of forest ecosystems in La Sierra, Dominican Republic, we selected the main four timber species used by this organization in its reforestation efforts. Volume, aerial biomass, and carbon for each of them, discriminating by age class were assessed to develop allometric equations throughout the age range. The species selected by technical staff of Plan Sierra were, Pinus occidentalis, Pinus caribaea var. Caribaea, Swietenia mahagoni and Swietenia macrophylla.