COS 84-1 - Carbon sequestration capacity of the wood vegetation in national parks of Hindu- Himalayan forest of Pakistan

Abstract: Vegetation is the basic part of an ecosystem where plant communities and species present according to environmental factors. The climatic conditions such as humidity, pressure, precipitation play important role in the distribution pattern of vegetation at the global level, however, at a smaller scale the distribution level of vegetation depends on factors like slope, altitude, lithology which make the overall microclimate of that area. The specific objectives of the study was to compare the vegetational distribution of plants in Ayubia National Park (ANP) moist temperate forest and Chitral Gol National Park (CGNP) dry temperate forest, to calculate the total carbon sequestrated through forest ecosystems in both the areas and to compare the biological spectra based on the Raunkiaer system of the classification. The annual carbon sequestrated by the plants was calculated by using i-tree calculator. Our results illustrate that both the forest differs significantly in species composition. Total 50 species were reported belonging to 20 families. Rosaceae was the dominant family of the CGNP having 6 species while in ANP only two species followed by Fagaceae with 5 species in ANP while only one in CGNP. Based on the Raunkiaer system of classification it was observed that Mesophanerophytes was the dominant life form of the ANP with 15 species while in CGNP this class has 12 species. Mesophyll was the dominant leaf spectra of the CGNP having 12 species and in ANP having 10 species on the basics of the Raunkiaer system of classification. The highest amount of carbon sequestrated in pounds in ANP by Ulmus wallichiana (88332.1) while in CGNP by the species of Platanus orentalis (41589.4). The highest amount of carbon sequestrated in $ in ANP by Ulmus wallichiana (2054.33) and in CGNP by Ascer spp (1074.71). We conclude that both the forest types not only differ in species composition but also in their carbon sequestration potential.