Impact of Unsustainable Forest Practices on Carbon Sequestration: Evidence from Tropical Ecosystems in Honduras
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63969/mvfgy405Keywords:
carbon sequestration, sustainable forest management, climate change, deforestation, tropical ecosystemsAbstract
Tropical forests constitute one of the world’s principal terrestrial carbon sinks; however, unsustainable forest practices significantly undermine their capacity to mitigate climate change. This study assessed the impact of different forest management practices on carbon sequestration in the Quebrada Las Uvas micro-catchment in Honduras, using a mixed-methods approach that combined forest inventories, statistical analyses and socio-economic assessments. Variables such as above-ground biomass, tree density, vegetation cover and soil carbon were measured. Forest inventories followed internationally recognised protocols, employing standard instruments to measure tree diameters and heights. Socio-economic assessments included interviews and surveys designed to understand community practices and patterns of resource use in rural areas. This integrated approach enabled the combination of ecological and social data, providing a more comprehensive understanding of how forest management influences carbon sequestration within the micro-catchment. In this way, both natural conditions and anthropogenic pressures affecting carbon storage were identified. In areas dominated by unsustainable practices, forests retain little more than half the carbon stored in healthy, well-conserved forests. Illegal logging emerged as the factor exerting the most severe negative impact on carbon storage capacity. If timely action is not taken, a substantial loss of carbon is projected over the coming decade, underscoring the urgent need to adopt sustainable forest management strategies in order to fully harness the potential of tropical forests in combating climate change.
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