Carbon stock and woody species diversity of the forests in Zegie Peninsula and monastic islands of Lake Tana, Ethiopia

Forests of the Zegie Peninsula and nearby monastic islands in Lake Tana are important refuges of biodiversity and major carbon sinks. However, their carbon stocks remain poorly quantified, and woody species diversity had not been well documented. This study assessed woody species diversity, plant community structure, forest biomass, and carbon stocks using standard allometric equations. Data were collected from 165 plots across Zegie, Daga Estifanos, Kebran Gebriel, and Entons Eyesus. A total of 89 woody species were identified, representing 75 genera and 40 families, and three plant communities were identified Coffea arabica - Ehretia cymosa, Mimusops kummel - Syzygium guineense , and Celtis Africana - Stereospermum kunthianum . Aboveground biomass ranged from 27.37 to 115.31 tons ha⁻¹, and the combined carbon stock from aboveground, belowground, and soil pools ranged from 163.31 to 214.59 tons ha⁻¹. The soil organic carbon pool contributed the largest and stable share of the total carbon stock ranged from 154.25 to 137.25 tons ha −1 . Aboveground biomass showed significant variation with slope aspect and declined with increasing altitude and slope. Overall, the high carbon stocks and woody species richness highlight the ecological significance of these forests and support their inclusion in REDD+ and other payment-based ecosystem service and forest conservation initiatives.