Tree Diversity and Modeling Carbon Sequestration Potential of Mt. Banahaw de Lucban, Quezon Philippines

Mt. Banahaw de Lucban in Quezon, Philippines, spans 1,660 hectares in the northeastern Mts. Banahaw San Cristobal Protected Landscape plays a crucial role in carbon sequestration in biomass and soil. This diverse ecosystem has significant potential for carbon storage. The study analyzed tree species composition, biomass, and physical factors, establishing 54 quadrats that identified 1,319 individuals from 175 species and 100 genera across 56 families. The most species-rich families were Moraceae (16 species), Euphorbiaceae (13), and Lauraceae (9). Clethraceae, Iteaceae, and Symplocaceae had the highest number of individuals. The species diversity index was 4.4080, richness 4.8185, evenness 0.8535, and dominance index 1.9985. Average tree biomass was 436.09 Mg ha¹, root biomass 2.89 Mg ha-¹, and total biomass 30.14 Mg ha-¹. Carbon storage amounted to 196.24 Mg ha-¹, with CO2 storage at 44.97 Mg ha-¹. Key factors influencing carbon sequestration included basal area (12%), DBH > 50 cm (10%), and maximum DBH (9%). The biomass model demonstrated median accuracies of 0.833 and 0.667 for carbon storage, indicating strong model performance. Mt. Banahaw de Lucban holds significant potential for climate mitigation through carbon storage, highlighting the importance of strict protection and conservation measures.