Carbon Sequestration Through Reforestation in Reclaimed Coal Mine Sites in East Kalimantan, Indonesia.

Abstract

Forests absorb CO₂ during photosynthesis and store it as organic matter in biomass plants. The amount of organic matter stored in forest biomass per unit area and per unit time is the subject of forest productivity. Forest productivity is a picture of the ability of forests to reduce CO₂ emissions in the atmosphere through physiological activity. Measuring productivity of forests in the context of this study is relevant to biomass measurements. Forest biomass provides important information in the assumed magnitude of potential CO₂ sequestration and biomass in a certain age that can be used to estimate forest productivity.

Reclamation of former coal mine is an attempt to repair or restore the land and vegetation in forest areas damaged as a result of mining activities, in order to function optimally as intended. Measurement of forest productivity in vegetation of areas mined coal is the purpose of this study.

Tree biomass accumulations and age-related changes of P. falcataria plantations were determined using a destructive sampling technique. These data were used to estimate optimum harvesting time. Tree biomass samples were collected in 3, 5, and 7 year old plantations in mined area, and in 7 year old plantations in not mined area. About 10 trees were sampled from each stand. Tree growth characteristics were evaluated for both sites.

Allometric equations were developed for each site to estimate root, stem, branch, leaf, aboveground and total biomass and stem volume. Using these equations, the stem volume and biomass of each component for each stand age were estimated. A single allometric relationship for all sites was found just for estimation of biomass and stem volume.

Keyword : P. falcataria, reclamation, East Kalimantan, biomass, CO_2, allometric equations