DOI: 10.36347/sajb.2018.v06i11.005

Pages: 713-719

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a major contributor to global warming. Thus, carbon emission reduction is of key concern which the Kyoto Protocol seeks to address. In nature, photosynthesis is the unique process through which carbon flows in ecosystems given that plants utilize atmospheric CO2 by that mechanism. Therefore, trees are important sinks for atmospheric carbon as they store about 50% carbon in their standing biomass and hence contribute significantly by counterbalancing the atmospheric CO2 levels. In an urban environment, such as the Legon Campus, avenue trees are remarkable ‘green pockets’ which play very significant role in combatting elevated carbon levels. The study therefore is a first time attempt that provides estimate of the carbon sequestration potential of some selected avenue tree species on the Campus namely Albizia saman, Erythopleum suaveolens, Khaya senegalensis, Milletia thonningii, Millingtonia hortensis and Peltophorum pterocarpum. Non-destructive approach was used for data collection in six (6) 600m x 30m size plots (10.8ha). Biomass estimation, CO2 sequestration and storage was computed by use of allometric regression equation. Results obtained indicate a total of 666 individual trees sampled; 78 individuals of Khaya senegalensis with an average girth (3.48m) & height (26.74m) stored 284.36 tons of carbon per hectare, followed by 132 individuals of Peltophorum pterocarpum girth (2.44m) & height (16.95m) stored 125.92 tons/ha, 66 Erythopleum suaveolens with girth (2.44m) & height (18.01m) stored 102.24 tons/ha, 72 Albizia saman girth (2.96m) and height (15.69m) stored 78.61 tons/ha. The least amount of carbon stock was recorded for 162 individuals of Milletia thonningii with average girth (1.64m) & height (15.32m) and 156 Millingtonia hortensis girth (1.57m) & height (18.29m) with the values of 69.76 and 69.60 tons of carbon /ha respectively. Present study underscores the carbon sequestration potential of the aforementioned tree species on