Carbon Sequestration Potential of Trees
in Kuvempu University Campus Forest
Area, Western Ghats, Karnataka
Jogattappa Narayana, Shashidhar, Appaji Nanda
and Malve Sathisha Savinaya
Abstract Assessing carbon sequestration by measuring above ground and below
ground biomass with non destructive method is globally acknowledged. The studies
from forest ecosystem have made a significant contribution in quantifying carbon
stock. This type of study has now gaining importance in urban ecosystems. Most of
the institutions and universities have natural forest and manmade plantations are now
assessing carbon stocks in India and elsewhere. In the present study Kuvempu university campus which is a part of Central Western Ghats was assessed. The total area
of the campus covers 326.21 acres with dry deciduous forest of Bhadra tiger reserve.
A total of 5596 individuals were recorded with a carbon stock of 457.0 t ha
−1 and
the dominant Terminalia paniculata contributed a total of 13% of carbon stock. The
storing capacity varies with species diversity, disturbance gradient and phenology.
This pilot study has made an attempt in advertising the present area in global carbon
stock assessment. Therefore, every educational institutions/universities can easily
contribute to global CO 2 mitigation by restoring the native species in their campus
and even it supports biodiversity and helps in future long term monitoring.
Keywords Biomass · Carbon stock · Trees · Diversity · Tropical forest · Dry
deciduous forest · Western Ghats
1 Introduction
Global warming and associated climate change is negatively impacting humans and
almost all ecosystems on the earth. The main cause of this change is rapid increase
in greenhouse gases (Gupta and Bhatt 2019).
J. Narayana (B) · Shashidhar · M. S. Savinaya
Department of P.G. Studies & Research in Environmental Science, Kuvempu University,
Shankaraghatta, Shivamogga, Karnataka 577451, India
e-mail: janes@rediffmail.com
A. Nanda
Biodiversity Education and Research Lab, Environmental Study Centre, Opposite to UAHS,
Ratnakar nagar, Shivamogga, Karnataka 577204, India
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
N. Roy et al. (eds.), Socio-economic and Eco-biological Dimensions
in Resource use and Conservation, Environmental Science and Engineering,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32463-6_15
303
in Kuvempu University Campus Forest
Area, Western Ghats, Karnataka
Jogattappa Narayana, Shashidhar, Appaji Nanda
and Malve Sathisha Savinaya
Abstract Assessing carbon sequestration by measuring above ground and below
ground biomass with non destructive method is globally acknowledged. The studies
from forest ecosystem have made a significant contribution in quantifying carbon
stock. This type of study has now gaining importance in urban ecosystems. Most of
the institutions and universities have natural forest and manmade plantations are now
assessing carbon stocks in India and elsewhere. In the present study Kuvempu university campus which is a part of Central Western Ghats was assessed. The total area
of the campus covers 326.21 acres with dry deciduous forest of Bhadra tiger reserve.
A total of 5596 individuals were recorded with a carbon stock of 457.0 t ha
−1 and
the dominant Terminalia paniculata contributed a total of 13% of carbon stock. The
storing capacity varies with species diversity, disturbance gradient and phenology.
This pilot study has made an attempt in advertising the present area in global carbon
stock assessment. Therefore, every educational institutions/universities can easily
contribute to global CO 2 mitigation by restoring the native species in their campus
and even it supports biodiversity and helps in future long term monitoring.
Keywords Biomass · Carbon stock · Trees · Diversity · Tropical forest · Dry
deciduous forest · Western Ghats
1 Introduction
Global warming and associated climate change is negatively impacting humans and
almost all ecosystems on the earth. The main cause of this change is rapid increase
in greenhouse gases (Gupta and Bhatt 2019).
J. Narayana (B) · Shashidhar · M. S. Savinaya
Department of P.G. Studies & Research in Environmental Science, Kuvempu University,
Shankaraghatta, Shivamogga, Karnataka 577451, India
e-mail: janes@rediffmail.com
A. Nanda
Biodiversity Education and Research Lab, Environmental Study Centre, Opposite to UAHS,
Ratnakar nagar, Shivamogga, Karnataka 577204, India
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
N. Roy et al. (eds.), Socio-economic and Eco-biological Dimensions
in Resource use and Conservation, Environmental Science and Engineering,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32463-6_15
303