Forests can capture and retain enormous amount of carbon over long period of time. Their role in carbon emission balance is also well documented. However, especially in developing country, wide spread deforestation and forest degradation is continuing unknowingly and deliberately. This study was conducted to estimate carbon stock in dry Afromontane forest type of Danaba community forest (CF) of Oromia Regional State of Ethiopia. A systematic sampling method was used to identify each sampling point. Results revealed that the total mean carbon stock of the CF was 507.29 t·ha^-1 whereas trees share 319.43 t·ha^-1, undergrowth shrubs 0.40 t·ha^-1, litter, herbs and grasses (LHGs) 1.06 t·ha^-1 and soil organic carbon (SOC) 186.40 t·ha^-1 (up to 30 cm depth). The ultimate result implies that Danaba CF is a reservoir of high carbon. To enhance sustainability of the forest potentiality, the carbon sequestration should be integrated with reduced emission from deforestation and degradation (REDD⁺) and clean development mechanism (CDM) carbon trading system of the Kyoto Protocol to get monetary benefit of CO₂ mitigation.

 

Keywords: Carbon sequestration, climate change, community forest, mitigation.