SENIOR LECTURER FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCES OTUKPO OTUKPO, Benue, Nigeria
Body of Abstract: Savanna woodland, which account for about 20% of Nigeria’s vegetation is facing an anthropogenic threat, but no systematic attention has been paid at its spatial structural characteristics and carbon stock across different pools. Using a plot level quadrat of 25 x 25 m, this study investigates the structural characteristic and carbon stock potential of savanna woodland across Southwest (SW) Nigeria. We determined the woody species composition, density, girth-size, height, basal area, and carbon stock from five major pools and their influence on total carbon storage. The stand structure, biomass and total carbon stock differed across the region. Total woody density ranged from 624 to 1152/ha and was highest in plot VII of the region, followed by plots III, IV and IX. Species diversity was generally low, and ranged between 1.56 in plot V to 2.737 in plot II. Savanna vegetation in plots V, VI, and VIII has higher basal area, registered species at higher girth size (61-80; >80) and has greater biomass. We found that the aboveground biomass is significantly related to the carbon stock rather than to species diversity. The carbon stock estimate of the aboveground pool was higher than that of the belowground pool and the carbon contribution from litter and herb was quite low. The total ecosystem carbon stock was 2066.53 MgC/ha and CO2 sequestered was 5240.15 MgCO2/ha. This suggests potential for CO2 mitigation-tied investment in the savanna woodland of Southwest Nigeria.