COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF CARBON STOCK IN CHIR PINE NATURAL FOREST SHINKIARI AND MAN-MADE PLANTATION PARACHINAR, PAKISTAN

The study focuses to assess the natural forest Shinkiari and the Man-made Plantation Parachinar (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa). The purpose is to estimate the Above Ground Biomass, below ground biomass and carbon stock in the forest upper and understory vegetation in both the forest. Total 60 circular plots with an area of 0.1 hectare were systematically laid in both the forest in a circle with a diameter of 17.84m. Aboveground biomass, Diameter at breast height (DBH) and all the trees height in a sample plot were measured in the field. Results shows that the natural forest have 7310 total stems per hectare, 7668.42t/ha the total biomass and 3834.3t/ha the total carbon stock. While the Man-made plantation, the total stem number per hectare 24640, the total biomass 2034.58t/ha while the total carbon stock is 1025.45t/ha. Therefore, these forests may generate carbon stock equal to 4829.48 tons. If the rate of one carbon credit price is US $30, the income may be achieved 1938983.4$ from these carbon credits. Pakistan's high carbon density temperate and subtropical forests have the potential to reduce emission from the forest sector. Therefore, it is necessary to protect forests with large carbon reserves in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to mitigate climate change.