Forests are essential for regulating the climate through carbon sequestration although their capacity varies depending on height and management techniques. The study evaluated the carbon stocks dynamics in soil and woody species over an elevation gradient in Abasayu Monastery Forest, northwestern Ethiopia. Data were collected from 60 plots in three different elevation zones (lower: 2100–2220 m; middle: 2220–2330 m; and higher: 2330–2460 m) using stratified systematic sampling. Allometric equations were used to compute aboveground biomass (AGB), while soil sampling was used to estimate soil organic carbon (SOC), respectively. A total of 55 species belongs to 35 families were recorded in the study area. Juniperus procera , Allophylus abyssinicus , and Eucalyptus globulus were the most dense and dominant trees species in the study area. Carbon stock was showed varied significantly by altitude ( p < 0.05). Larger tree diameters and dense vegetation in the middle height produced the highest aboveground carbon (AGC) stock (281.53 t ha −1 ), while extensive litter fall from native shrubs at the higher elevation produced the highest SOC stock (134.01 t ha −1 ). With contributions from AGC of 58.72%, SOC of 26.72%, and BGC of 14.52%, the total carbon stock across all pools was significant. Higher elevation zones are crucial for soil carbon sequestration, while midaltitude forests are crucial for woody carbon storage, according to the study. The importance of monastery forests in reducing the effect of climate change and conserving biodiversity is highlighted by these findings, which also highlight the necessity of sustainable management techniques to improve carbon sequestration and ecosystem services.
Enyew et al. (Wed,) studied this question.