Altitudinal Variation in Carbon Sequestration and Carbon Credit Potential of Grewia optiva Drumm in the Himalayan Ecosystems of Uttarakhand, India

Climate change mitigation relies heavily on carbon sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems, particularly through agroforestry species. Grewia optiva , a multipurpose species widely grown in the Himalayan region, was chosen for its ecological resilience, altitudinal adaptability, and substantial contributions in carbon (C) sequestration and rural livelihoods through fuelwood and fodder supply. This study evaluated its species composition, biomass, and C sequestration potential across three altitudinal zones‐ Lower Altitude (LA: 700–1000 m asl), Middle Altitude (MA: 1000–1300 m asl), and Upper Altitude (UA: 1300–1800 m asl) in the Narendranagar and Chamba blocks of Tehri Garhwal district, Uttarakhand, India. The variation in soil physico‐chemical properties revealed that nitrogen content was the highest (476.67 kg ha −1 ) at upper altitude while soil organic carbon (SOC) stock reported the highest at lower altitude (15.69 t ha −1 ) reflecting organic matter accumulation. The CO 2 equivalent was the highest (13.76 t ha −1 ) in middle altitude, indicating the maximum C storage potential. By using a non‐destructive method, net C sequestration and oxygen (O 2 ) emission reported maximum at middle altitude. The C price values reported the highest approximately 18.35$, while the annual shoot of G. optiva at the middle altitude yielded a C value of 1.26$, demonstrating its potential for carbon sequestration and credit generation. The middle altitude exhibits the highest carbon accumulation in the annual shoot of G. optiva , with total C storage estimated at 3.47 t ha −1 , corresponding to a CO 2 equivalent of 0.94 t ha −1−1 yr. and an O 2 emission of 0.17 t ha −1 yr. −1 . These findings underscore the species value in climate mitigation and ecosystem service provisioning in mid‐altitude Himalayan agroforestry systems.