Current and Future Carbon Content of Standing Biomass in Gishwati Forest Reserve

Abstract

We determine the carbon content of standing biomass in the Gishwati forest reserve in northwestern Rwanda, and estimate the growth potential of naturally regenerated forest there. In surveying UNFCC Clean Development Mechanism projects, we suggest that current methods of growth rate projection for mixed, non-plantation forests may significantly overestimate the amount of carbon sequestered, and identify an alternative method for the calculation of sequestration potential. We find that the Gishwati forest is expected to sequester an average of 0.885 tonnes C/ha per annum over the next 30 years.