Carbon Stocks In The Mangrove Ecosystem Of Rufiji River Delta, Rufiji District, Tanzania

ABSTRACT

One of the most important ecosystem services provided by mangrove ecosystems is to act as a carbon sink. Despite this role, most carbon storage studies in Tanzania have concentrated on terrestrial ecosystems. In this study, carbon and volume prediction models were developed for the mangrove ecosystem in Rufiji River Delta, Tanzania. The models developed were used to estimate carbon. Soil organic carbon as an important carbon reservoir was also assessed at different depths. Biomass and volume prediction models were developed using linear regression from a destructive sample of 50 trees spanning a wide range of DBH size classes. Soil organic carbon was analyzed by wet oxidation method. Biomass models were developed for stems, branches, roots, leaves and twigs and volume prediction models for total volume. All linear and power form models developed were significant at P