Role of Vachellia tortilis in carbon sequestration in Al Saleel Natural Park Reserve

Climate change has emerged as a paramount issue in our contemporary time, as its impacts on various aspects of our world have become increasingly noticeable. These significant changes are directly attributed to the increasing emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs). Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is claimed to represent the higher portion of the emitted gases. Trees play a key role in climate change mitigation by carbon sequestration through the process of photosynthesis. This study aims to estimate the above and belowground biomass and carbon stock of Vachellia tortilis in Al-Saleel natural park reserve. The field measurement was done in two transects each with a total of five circular plots with a 15m radius. A total of 161 trees were recorded and the circumference at stump height was measured (at 0.3m above the ground), where the diameter at stump height (DSH) and the biomass were estimated using the non-destructive allometric equations. About 43% of the measured trees had diameter at stump height (DSH) between 16-20cm. There was no significant difference between the results found in transact 1 and transact 2. The total aboveground biomass and belowground biomass were significantly different and estimated to be 20.12 t and 4.02 t, respectively. The total carbon stock and CO2 sequestered were about 12.06 t C m-2 and 44.27 t m-2, respectively. These results indicate the important role of Vachellia tortilis in mitigating greenhouse gases emissions.