Specific and generic stem biomass and volume models of tree species in a West African tropical semi-deciduous forest

TY - JOUR

T1 - Specific and generic stem biomass and volume models of tree species in a West African tropical semi-deciduous forest

AU - Goussanou, Cédric A.

AU - Guendehou, Sabin

AU - Assogbadjo, Achille E.

AU - Kaire, Maguette

AU - Sinsin, Brice

AU - Cuni Sanchez, Aida

PY - 2016

Y1 - 2016

N2 - The quantification of the contribution of tropical forests to global carbon stocks and climate change mitigation requires availability of data and tools such as allometric equations. This study made available volume and biomass models for eighteen tree species in a semi-deciduous tropical forest in West Africa. Generic models were also developed for the forest ecosystem, and basic wood density determined for the tree species. Non-destructive sampling approach was carried out on five hundred and one sample trees to analyse stem volume and biomass. From the modelling of volume and biomass as functions of diameter at breast height (Dbh) and stem height, logarithmic models had better predictive capabilities. The model validation showed that in absence of data on height, models using Dbh only as variable was an alternative. The comparison of basic wood densities to data published in literature enabled to conclude that the non-destructive sampling was a good approach to determining reliable basic wood density. The comparative analysis of species-specific models in this study with selected generic models for tropical forests indicated low probability to identify effective generic models with good predictive ability for biomass. Given tree species richness of tropical forests, the study demonstrated the hypothesis that species-specific models are preferred to generic models, and concluded that further research should be oriented towards development of specific models to cover the full range of dominant tree species of African forests.

AB - The quantification of the contribution of tropical forests to global carbon stocks and climate change mitigation requires availability of data and tools such as allometric equations. This study made available volume and biomass models for eighteen tree species in a semi-deciduous tropical forest in West Africa. Generic models were also developed for the forest ecosystem, and basic wood density determined for the tree species. Non-destructive sampling approach was carried out on five hundred and one sample trees to analyse stem volume and biomass. From the modelling of volume and biomass as functions of diameter at breast height (Dbh) and stem height, logarithmic models had better predictive capabilities. The model validation showed that in absence of data on height, models using Dbh only as variable was an alternative. The comparison of basic wood densities to data published in literature enabled to conclude that the non-destructive sampling was a good approach to determining reliable basic wood density. The comparative analysis of species-specific models in this study with selected generic models for tropical forests indicated low probability to identify effective generic models with good predictive ability for biomass. Given tree species richness of tropical forests, the study demonstrated the hypothesis that species-specific models are preferred to generic models, and concluded that further research should be oriented towards development of specific models to cover the full range of dominant tree species of African forests.

KW - Allometric equations

KW - Basic wood density

KW - Carbon stock

KW - Non-destructive sampling

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84957824607&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.14214/sf.1474

DO - 10.14214/sf.1474

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:84957824607

SN - 1457-7356

VL - 50

JO - Silva Fennica Monographs

JF - Silva Fennica Monographs

IS - 2

M1 - 1474

ER -