Forest carbon stocks under three canopy densities in Sitapahar natural forest reserve in Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh

Tropical forests play a significant role in sequestrating and storing atmospheric carbon di-oxide (CO2) emissions. However, estimation of forest carbon (C) stocks in relation to changes in forest structure and disturbances are less studied. We estimated forest C stocks in live trees, saplings, lianas, deadwood, forest floor, and soil in Sitapahar natural forest reserve of Bangladesh based on field measurements and laboratory assessments. We categorized the 99 temporary sample plots into three canopy densities: closed, moderately closed, and open. According to the results, the forest C stocks were dominated by the soil C pool and forest C stocks in the closed canopy (91 Mg ha−1) differed significantly from that in the open canopy (50 Mg ha−1). Forest C stocks were…