Carbon Sequestration Capacity of Sudlon Watershed in Barangay Central, Mati City, Davao Oriental

The study was conducted to quantify the biomass and carbon storage of the vegetative cover of Sudlon Watershed in Barangay Central, Mati, Davao Oriental. The specific objectives of this study were to determine the total area of the vegetative cover, to determine the vegetative structures, to identify the status of the vegetation, and to provide recommendations in relation to the management of the watershed. Actual surveying of the area as to the hectarage of various vegetative covers of the area was done with the aid of a Global Positioning System (GPS). The determined hectarage was then used in extrapolating the biomass and carbon sequestration capacity of the vegetative cover of the area. The Geographic Information System software was used to come up with a vegetation map of the area. The watershed area in Brgy. Central covers 879.21 ha., comprising agroforestry farms, Tree Plantation, Secondary-growth Forest, Cogon area, and the human settlement of Purok Malipayon and Sitio Banahaw. Their extent is as follows: Agroforestry farms, occupying the largest area, covers 492.36 ha., secondary-growth forest or thickets covers 195.97 ha., tree plantation covers 178.65 ha., and cogon area with 10.02 ha. Human settlement of Purok Malipayon covers 0.69 ha. While that of Sitio Banahaw covers 1.52 ha. The agroforestry farm, having occupied the largest area, has the greatest biomass (25,664.15 tons) and thus the carbon sequestration capacity (12,830.84 tons). In total, the watershed area contains an estimated biomass of 44,969.03 tons and 22,483.38 tons of carbon sequestration capacity.