Logging operations in Cameroon are based on the extraction of wood from natural forests. In this article, we assessed the carbon stock in a forest management unit (FMU) located in East Cameroon from field inventory to postfelling operations up to sawmill and export terminals. Tree basal area and aboveground biomass were calculated based on trees inventoried in the annual allowable cut. We observed that from an exploitable tree potential of 0.696 trees ha-1 inventoried within a diameter range of 50-110 cm, 0.141 tree ha-1 (i.e., 20% of the inventoried trees) were logged. In other words, out of 6.78 tC ha-1 inventoried, 1.84 tC ha-1 (i.e., 27% was logged), 1.62 tC ha-1 arrived in the log yard and 1.3 tC ha-1 arrived in sawmill, while 0.32 tC ha-1 reached the export terminal. In terms of damages caused on vegetation, 4.45% of all the annual allowance cut (AAC) were affected during logging activities, this represents almost 33,188.07 tons of carbon. These findings show that the implementation of reduced-impact logging (RIL) could reduce these losses throughout the logging steps and help propose a process for the valuation of wood waste in the forest and sawmill. In this context, reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation will be engaged with the right approach.

Authors: NitcheuTchiadje,S.; Sonwa,D.J.; Nkongmeneck,B.A.; Cerbonney,L.; Sufo-Kankeu,R.

Subjects: biomass production, basal area, carbon, forest management, concessions

Publication type: ISI, Journal Article, Publication

Year: 2016

ISSN: 1054-9811

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10549811.2016.1190757