Shrinkage and Carbon Stock in Wetlands of Fogera Plain, North West Ethiopia

Abstract

This study investigates the shrinkage and carbon sequestrationin wetlands of Fogera plain,North West Ethiopia. Landsat MSS of 1973, Landsat TM of 1994 and Landsat ETM+ 2011 were used for change detection. Supervised image classification through maximum likelihood classifier algorithm and qualitative data collection methods wereused. Composite soil samples in three replications at a depth of 0-75 cm were collected and samples organic carbon and organic matter was analyzed in soil laboratory. The result of Landsat images analysis showed that the area of the wetland was 25% of the area in1973 while it shrinkedin to 19.59% in 2011.There is a significant difference (p < 0.05) in soil OC and OM content in between different classes of wetlands. The organic carbon content of soils in wetlands where there is sediment deposition is very low. In less disturbed wetlands, there is better carbon content than other state of wetlands. Totally, carbon sequestration potential of these wetlands is very low in comparison with the carbon content of the wetlands of other parts of the world. This study recommends further upstreamwatershed conservation efforts and payment for the ecosystem services and benefits for such like ecosystems is to be started.

Key words; carbon sequestration, sediment deposition