Carbon sequestration potential of agroforestry systems in the Central Western Ghats: A study of Mundgod and Haliyal Taluks

Abstract

Agroforestry systems in the Central Western Ghats play a critical role in sustainable land management and climate change mitigation by integrating trees, crops, and livestock. This study evaluates the carbon sequestration potential of agroforestry systems in Mundgod and Haliyal taluks of Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka, focusing on above-ground and below-ground carbon pools. A total of 70 sampling plots were assessed to measure growth parameters such as tree height, diameter at breast height (DBH), and biomass, using standard allometric equations. Results revealed that species like Casuarina equisetifolia, Tectona grandis, and Santalum album exhibited the highest carbon sequestration capacities due to their fast growth and high wood density. Casuarina equisetifolia recorded the highest potential in Mundgod (577.95 tCO₂/ha), while Tectona grandis led in Haliyal (528.04 tCO₂/ha). Lower sequestration was observed in slower-growing species like Azadirachta indica. The study highlights significant variability in species performance and underscores the importance of selecting high-biomass, fast-growing species for maximizing carbon storage. These findings reinforce the role of agroforestry as a climateresilient, sustainable land-use strategy that contributes to biodiversity conservation, rural livelihoods, and national climate goals, in alignment with India’s (National Agroforestry Policy, 2014).