v.9 n.1 February

Stored carbon in dominant mangrove species in Indian Sundarbans: A situation analysis with two different methods

Fayza Kaokab Khokher, Afif Ullah Khan, Harendra Singh Bargali, Sana Ahmed, Ricardo Gobato, Sufia Zaman, and Abhijit Mitra

Parana J. Sci. Educ., v.9, n.1, (1-9), February 10, 2023.

DOI:   tiny.cc/PJSE24476153v9i1p001-009

Abstract

Planet earth is experiencing the increase of carbon dioxide at an alarming level. Producer communities naturally remove carbon dioxide from the air during photosynthesis and store/sequester carbon in stems, leaves, branches, barks, roots, and soil. Estimates of carbon stock in forest plantations are generally based on allometric equations relating either carbon or biomass to diameter at breast height (DBH). These equations are usually based on measurement of the fresh mass of each tree with sub-samples taken to determine moisture content to convert to dry weight. However, drying time and the number of sub-samples often vary between studies. Furthermore, the carbon concentration of different tree parts is rarely measured directly, but generally assumed to be 45% or 50% of dry weight. This creates discrepancies in the amount (value) of carbon stored in a particular forest ecosystem. Accurate measurement and accounting for changes in carbon stock are not only important for certification and verification of carbon credits but would help stabilize market prices for such credit system. The present paper highlights this very important issue considering the above ground biomass of mangrove forests in Indian Sundarbans. The plant biomass estimation was carried out for an average of 300 trees in 35 (10m × 10m) plots from the intertidal mudflats of Annpur (center coordinates 22°11'52"N latitude and 88°50'43"E longitude) in low tide condition during 5th to 15th January 2023. The estimated above ground biomass and the carbon stock were of the order Avicennia alba > Avicennia marina > Sonneratia apetala > Avicennia officinalis > Excoecaria agallocha. The amount of carbon stored in the above ground biomass of the species deviated within the range 7.64% to 46.97% between direct measurement of the vegetative parts through carbon analyzer and assumed value, which is 50% by weight of the dry biomass. More experiments are required to minimize the magnitude of deviation between these two techniques, as carbon credit from mangrove afforestation programme needs a strong and accurate experimental base. The study, however, confirms the role of mangroves as potential sink of carbon dioxide. 

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Measuring the degradation of an Indian steel city - Case study Durgapur

Parikhit Biswas

Parana J. Sci. Educ., v.9, n.1, (10-18), February 10, 2023.

DOI:   tiny.cc/PJSE24476153v9i1p010-018

Abstract

City grows it its own pace due to its own characteristics and catalysts. Regional advantage, availability of labor, connectivity and economic activity are some of the major aspects. Due to unavailability of its growth booster city starts to decay or it does not perform as it meant to be. The theories or urban decay and its associates link itself with city growth. For the case of Indian steel city - Durgapur, its main economic backbone degraded globally. The paper studied various cases of city degradation and their solutions across the world. To understand the city degradation in case of Durgapur, its population, economy, city infrastructure, transportation, urban environment has been studied. In continuation it also studies the impact of local and national development guidelines which are governing the city growth. In conclusion it finds the key aspects to be considered during the rejuvenation of this kind of steel city.

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