Gmelina Agroforestry in Tasikmalaya and Banjar Stores 170 Tonnes of Carbon per Hectare

Image: article cover, from Siarudin and Yonky (2017), Jurnal Wasian, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

A research team from the Ciamis Agroforestry Technology Research and Development Centre measured carbon stocks in gmelina-based (Gmelina arborea) agroforestry systems in community forests in Tasikmalaya Regency and Banjar Regency, West Java Province. Observations were conducted in 17 plots from March to October 2014. The results showed that the average carbon stock in gmelina agroforestry stands reached 170 tonnes per hectare, consisting of 64 tonnes per hectare above ground and 106 tonnes per hectare below ground.

The study also calculated how carbon stocks change with harvest timing. If trees are harvested at a biological age of 8 years, the maximum carbon at harvest is about 15 tonnes per hectare, with an average of 7 tonnes per hectare per year. If harvesting is delayed until the stem diameter reaches 15 cm or about 14 years, the maximum carbon increases to 23 tonnes per hectare and the average to 12 tonnes per hectare per year. Harvesting at a diameter of 20 cm or about 24 years results in a maximum carbon of 28 tonnes per hectare with an average of 18 tonnes per hectare per year.

For forest-dependent communities, these findings indicate that gmelina-based community forests are not only a source of timber but also carbon stores. Delaying felling until a certain diameter increases the carbon stored, although it means a longer waiting period for farmers. The study notes that its calculations are based on harvest rotation scenarios, so field figures may vary according to stand conditions.

Source and how to cite

This story is based on the research article Carbon Stock Dinamics of Gmelina (Gmellina arborea Roxb.) based Agroforestry in Private Forest, Tasikmalaya and Banjar District, West Java by Mohamad Siarudin Siarudin and Yonky Indrajaya Yonky, published in Jurnal Wasian Vol. 4 No. 1 (2017). The full article is free to read on the Jurnal Wasian website.

Cite the original article (APA 7):

Siarudin, M. S., & Yonky, Y. I. (2017). Carbon Stock Dinamics of Gmelina (Gmellina arborea Roxb.) based Agroforestry in Private Forest, Tasikmalaya and Banjar District, West Java. Jurnal Wasian, 4(1), 37–46. https://doi.org/10.62142/zsaaqm75

If you use these findings in coursework, a thesis or other writing, cite the original article above, not this news story. The original article is licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.