Distribution of Carbon Stock by Land in Banyuasin Regency, South Sumatra

Abstract

Land use and land cover changes impact on carbon losses in terrestrial areas. The loss of carbon increase carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the atmosphere which is the major cause of global warming. Intensive land use and land cover changes took place in Banyuasin Regency from 2004-2014 led to changes in carbon stock distribution in the area. This study aimed to know how the distribution of carbon pools by land that occur in Banyuasin Regency. Research includes land use change, the amount of carbon stock changes, carbon balance and CO₂ emissions/sequestration. The study was conducted from June 2015 to February 2016. The method used was the method that calculates land use change and land cover in 2004-2009 and 2009-2014, calculation of carbon stocks using allometric equations and destructive sampling methods, and Carbon/CO₂ emissions/sequestration calculations using stock difference method. The results showed that during the period 2004-2014 the carbon balance moved toward the negative direction. Average carbon stock per hectare was 338.28 tons while average carbon loss was 0.45% per year. CO₂ sequestration amounted to 29.298.966 tons while the emission was 118,044,141 tons, of which net emission was 88,745,175 tons. The average CO₂ emitted from above ground carbon pools, necromass carbon pools, litter carbon pools and belowrground carbon pools was 7 tons ha^-1 yr^-1, while CO₂ emissions from soil organic C pools was 0.61 ton ha^-1 yr^{-1 .}Emission sources were dominated by changes in land use and land cover of peat swamp forests, secondary mangrove forests, primary mangrove forests and secondary swamp forests. While the source of sequestration came from changes in Rubber monoculture on peat, palm oil plantations, rubber monoculture, and shrubs.

Key Words: Land use and land cover, carbon pool distribution, CO₂ emissions/sequestration