Subhash AshutoshSubhash Ashutosh

Joint DirectorJoint Director

Forest Survey of IndiaForest Survey of Indiasashutosh30@yahoo.comsashutosh30@yahoo.com

Estimation of Carbon Estimation of Carbon

Stock in Indian ForestsStock in Indian Forests

Salient Features of the Methodology

• most comprehensive assessment so far

• a GIS approach

• based on over 15,000 sample plot data from National

Forest Inventory

• First ever forest type map (Champion & Seth Classification)

has been used

• stratification based on forest cover (canopy density) and

Forest Type

• strata specific volume equations/ expansion factors and

specific gravity used

• carbon stocks for the years 2007 and 2005 have been assessed

Approach

Synthesis & Estimation

Forest Type

Stratification

Other components

Overlaying sample plots of

NFI

Woody biomass

Forest Cover 2007

Carbon Stock 2007

Dense ForestOpen Forest

Forest Cover

• biennial assessment• 1:50,000 scale• wall-to-wall mapping

2007

Tropical Wet Evergreen-North EastTropical Wet Evergreen-Western Ghats

Tropical Semi Evergreen-North EastTropical Semi Evergreen-Eastern Deccan

Tropical Semi Evergreen-Western GhatsTropical Moist Deciduous Forests

Littoral & Swamp ForestsTropical Dry Deciduous Forests

Tropical Thorn ForestTropical & Subtropical Dry Evergreen Forests

Subtropical Pine ForestsMontane Moist Temperate Forest

Sub Alpine & Temperate ForestAlpine Scrub

Plantation/TOFNon Forest

Forest Type Groups

• first ever forest type map

• recently completed project

based on C & S classification

Strata based on forest type and forest cover

Tropical Wet Evergreen-North East- Dense Forest

Tropical Wet Evergreen-Western Ghats- Dense Forest

Tropical Semi Evergreen-North East- Dense Forest

Tropical Semi Evergreen-Eastern Deccan- Dense Forest

Tropical Semi Evergreen-Western Ghats- Open Forest

Tropical Moist Deciduous Forests- Open Forest

Littoral & Swamp Forests- Open Forest

Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests- Open Forest

Tropical Thorn Forest- Open Forest

Tropical & Subtropical Dry Evergreen Forests- Dense Forest

Subtropical Pine Forests- Dense Forest

Montane Moist Temperate Forest- Open Forest

Sub Alpine & Temperate Forest- Dense Forest

Alpine Scrub- Open Forest

Plantation/TOF- Open Forest

Non Forest

Tropical Wet Evergreen-North East- Open Forest

Tropical Wet Evergreen-Western Ghats- Open Forest

Tropical Semi Evergreen-North East- Open Forest

Tropical Semi Evergreen-Eastern Deccan- Open Forest

Tropical Semi Evergreen-Western Ghats- Dense Forest

Tropical Moist Deciduous Forests- Dense Forest

Littoral & Swamp Forests- Dense Forest

Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests- Dense Forest

Tropical Thorn Forest- Dense Forest

Tropical & Subtropical Dry Evergreen Forests- Open Forest

Subtropical Pine Forests- Open Forest

Montane Moist Temperate Forest- Dense Forest

Sub Alpine & Temperate Forest- Open Forest

Alpine Scrub- Dense Forest

Plantation/TOF- Dense Forest

15,439 sample plots of National Forest Inventory

sample plots overlaid on the strata layer

S.No Attributes

1 OID

2 Longitude

3 Latitude

4 State

5 District

6 Land Use

7 Crop Composition

8 Plot Volume of Trees 10 cm & above (cu.m.)

9 Plot Leaf BM of Trees 10 cm & above (kgs)

10 Plot Small Wood BM of Trees 10 cm & above dia (kgs)

11 Plot Woody BM of Trees < 10 cm dia (kgs)

12 Plot Leaf BM of Trees < 10 cm dia (kgs)

13 Plot Forest floor BM (kgs)

14 Per Ha. Forest floor OCC (kgs)

15 Plot soil OCC (kgs)

16 FCM

17 FTM

18 Strata

Attributes attached with each sample plot

Components of Assessed Biomass

A Above Ground

Live Biomass

woody biomass (tree)foliageshrubsclimbersherbs

Dead Biomass

dead woodlitter

B Below Ground

Live biomass

Soil Organic Carbon

For assessing different components

-volume equations of species

-strata specific primary data generated for each

component through a country wide special study

-samples of soil for SOC (from the sample plots of NFI

ComponentsBiomass in

million tonnes

Carbon in

million tonnes

A. Above Grounds

A1. Woody biomass of tress above 10 cm dbh (includes stem upto

10 cm dia and branches upto 5 cm dia) 3400 1562

A2. Woody Biomass of the trees above 10 cm dbh (includes stem

part less than 10 cm dia and branch parts less than 5 cm ) 648 298

A3. Woody biomass of trees below 10 cm dbh (includes complete

stems as well as branches) 448 206

A4. Biomass of foliage of trees above 10 cm dbh (includes leaves,

green twigs, fruits and flowers) 19 9

A5. Biomass of foliage of trees below 10 cm dbh (includes leaves,

green twigs, fruits and flowers) 34 16

A6. Biomass of shrubs 150 55

A7. Biomass of climbers 47 18

A8. Biomass of herbs 38 9

A. Total above ground (A1+A2+A3+A4+A5+A6+A7+A8) 4785 2173

B. Below ground 1509 685

T1. Total live biomass (A+B) 6294 2859

C. Deadwood 31 14

D. Litter 385 162

T2. Total dead biomass (C+D) 461 176

E. Soil Organic Carbon - 4292

Grand total (T1+T2+E) 6709 7328

Biomass

(million tons)

Carbon stock

( Million tons)

Above ground

biomass

4760 2162

Below ground

biomass

1501 682

Dead wood 31 14

Litter 383 161

Soil - 4270

TOTAL 6674 7290

Carbon Stock in India’s Forests in 2007

C stock in

million tons

2005

C stock in

million tons

2007

Change in C

stock in

million tons

(2005 - 2007)

CO2

removal in

million tons

A B C=A-B D=C*44/12

Above

ground

biomass 2337 2349 -12 -44

Below

ground

biomass 682 685 -3 -11

Soil Carbon 4270 4292 -22 -80. 7

Total 7289 7326 -37 -135.7

Change between 2005 and 2007

THANX

thank you