Investigating the effect of fire dynamics on the aboveground carbon storage in the Bateke landscape, Congo PhD research study Paula Nieto Quintano, University of Edinburgh ------------------------- Dr Edward Mitchard and Dr Casey Ryan - UoE Dr Tim Rayden, Wildlife Conservation Society - Congo US Forest Service
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Investigating the effect of fire dynamics on the aboveground carbon storage in the Bateke landscape, Congo PhD research study
Paula Nieto Quintano, University of Edinburgh -------------------------
Dr Edward Mitchard and Dr Casey Ryan - UoE Dr Tim Rayden, Wildlife Conservation Society - Congo US Forest Service
INTRODUCTION – Fires in African Savannas
> Africa is often referred to as the “fire continent”
> Most fires occur in the savanna biome
> Previous research – Long term fire experiments
Burn season & timing affects its impact on the vegetation
Fire intensity & fire frequency have a big effect on tree survival rates
AGB reduced with increased fire frequency
Early Dry Season fires (May/June)
Cool fires, patchy -> Reduce fire frequency in late season
Lower mortality rates
More regeneration
Late Dry Season fires (Sept) High intensity
High mortality rates
Regeneration disrupted
The Bateke Plateau
> Bateke plateau: savanna-covered surrounded by rainforest. Located principally in the RoC
Saatchi et al. Global aboveground carbon map
Congo basin forest
Savanna
The Bateke Plateau
> Bateke plateau: savanna-covered surrounded by rainforest. Located principally in the RoC
> Kalahari sands. Not many herbivores
Kalahari sands
The Bateke Plateau
Change in woody cover of African savannas as a function of MAP (Sankaran et al., 2005).
> Bateke plateau: savanna-covered surrounded by rainforest. Located principally in the RoC
> Kalahari sands. Not many herbivores
> Average annual precipitation: 1,700-2,000 mm. Dry season from end of May to September.
> Fire is one of the primary determinants of savanna growth
> Few long term field studies on the impacts of fire in savannas / seasonality
> Bateke plateau largely unstudied
> Area is burned frequently (mainly dry season)
> With appropriate fire management, possibility to increase carbon storage
RELEVANCE / OBJECTIVES
> Understand the woody cover, productivity, carbon storage and fire regime of the complex forest/savanna system of the Bateke
> Quantify the relationships between fire intensity/frequency, woody cover and AGB of the Bateke Plateau
METHODOLOGY
Control Fire regimes: • Annual Early Dry
Season (EDS) • Annual Late Dry
Season (LDS) • No burning
Predict carbon sequestration rates and total
carbon stocks under different fire regimes
Temporal & Spatial Analysis of fires
Biomass
DALEC
AIM 1: Aboveground Biomass and floristic characteristics of the savannas in the Bateke Plateau. Determine mortality and growth rates.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
> RQ1. Quantification of the biomass in the plots and how it is
distributed?
> RQ2. What is the floristic characterisation of the plots?
> RQ3. What are the mortality, growth and regeneration rates, and how
do they vary under different fire regimes?
1. Field experiment METHODOLOGY
1. Field experiment METHODOLOGY
• 3 permanent plots in two sites. 3 fire regimes:
> Annual Early Dry Season > Annual Late Dry Season > No burning
2 STUDY SITES
LEFINI RESERVE
LESIO-LOUNA RESERVE
1. Field experiment METHODOLOGY
• 3 permanent plots in two sites. 3 fire regimes:
> Annual Early Dry Season > Annual Late Dry Season > No burning
Inventory of trees - DBH > 9cm - Sps - Height - Status
Species (grasses & plants)
Inventory all saplings Grass Biomass (DPM)
Soil
Soil samples
PLOTS SUBPLOTS
2015
Lefini Reserve
> Woodland savanna (Hymenocardia Acida) with riverine forest
Riverine forest
Savanna
Lefini Reserve
> Woodland savanna (Hymenocardia Acida) with riverine forest
Savanna
Riverine forest
Gite
LDS (1)
Lesio Louna Reserve – Aspinal Gorilla camp
> Woodland savanna (Hymenocardia Acida) with riverine forest > Fire exclusion areas for 15-20 years – forest expansion
> Woodland savanna (Hymenocardia Acida) with riverine forest > Fire exclusion areas for 15-20 years – forest expansion
No Burn (6)
Riverine forest
Camp
Lesio Louna Reserve – Aspinal Gorilla camp
Trees • Around 1200 trees per plot Stem density ~ 50 (stems/Ha) • Main sps Hymenocardia acida (Strychnos Pungens and Syzygium guineense) • AGB
1. Fire Experiment Some results
Tree inventory Tree species composition Plot
Tree species 1 2 3 4 5 6 Albizia 0 0 0 1 1 0
Annona senegalensis 0 0 0 1 0 1
Bridelia 0 0 0 4 0 0
Hymenocardia acida 944 1485 1731 1108 855 572
Ikourou 0 0 0 2 0 0
Maprounea africana 0 3 97 5 0 0
Strychnos cocculoides 0 0 0 2 0 0
Strychnos pungens 1 3 7 10 2 0
Syzygium 0 0 0 47 226 4
Vitex 0 1 0 1 0 0
Total trees
DBH>9
AGB
(Tonne/Ha)
Stem
density
LEFI
NI Plot 1 LDS 945 1.04 37.8
Plot 2 EDS 1795 2.35 71.7
Plot 3 NB 1834* 4.76 73.4
LESI
O Plot 4 EDS 1181 1.80 47.2
Plot 5 EDS 1084 1.59 43.4
Plot 6 NB 577* 1.21 23.1
* DBH > 11cm
SUBPLOTS
Number of grass species 23
Number of plant species 34
Grass and plant species composition (subplots)
Trees • Around 1000 trees per plot Stem density ~ 50 (stems/Ha) • Main sps Hymenocardia acida (Strychnos Pungens and Syzygium guineense) • AGB
1. Fire Experiment Some results
AGB vs. DBH classes
Grasses • Loudetia simplex - Hyparrhenia diplandra • AGB
1. Fire Experiment Some results
Comparison between tree and grass biomass plots 1,2,4 and 5
Bio
mas
s (t
on
ne/
ha)
Gra
ss B
iom
ass
(to
nn
e/h
a)
Tree Biomass (tonne/ha)
1. Fire Experiment Some results
Early Dry Season Fire Late Dry Season Fire
FIRES Mortality % Average growth per year
EDS fires low intensity patched fire 25/70 % of the plot burnt
1.4 0.12 cm
LDS fires more intense 100% of the plot burnt
~1.8 0.14 cm
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
> RQ1. What are the dynamics of woody cover and fire frequency from 2000-
2015?
> RQ2. Are there seasonal variations (EDS vs LDS Fires) of fire intensity/density?
> RQ3. Are there relationships between fire return time and AGB? And between
AGB and other spatial variables (soils, elevation or slope)?
> RQ4. Is there any relation between fire dynamics and spatial variables
(protected areas, accessibility, vegetation type, soils,..)?
2. Remote Sensing Analysis METHODOLOGY
MODIS (2000-2015) 250m/Daily
> Active Fire MCD14ML (FRP) and Burned Area product MCD45A1
2. Remote Sensing METHODOLOGY
Fire occurrence and intensity
Landsat 7/8 30 m / 16 days
> Canopy cover mapping > Fire scar mapping (validation for MODIS)
Alos 2 PALSAR (2016) L band (~20m)
> Biomass
LEFINI LESIO LOUNA
Fire Frequency Study Areas (2000-2014) – Active fires from MODIS
2. Remote Sensing Some results
Legend
firefrew_Lefini
<all other values>
Join_Count
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Fire Freq. (years)
LEFINI LESIO LOUNA
Active fires 2014 (MODIS active fire data)
2. Remote Sensing Some results
Example ALOS2 Palsar - Lefini 2016
2. Remote Sensing Some results
Next steps
• Continue fire experiment • Next 12 moths: - Remote sensing analysis - Modelling
Grasses • Loudetia simplex - Hyparrhenia diplandra • AGB
1. Fire Experiment Some results
Comparison between tree and grass biomass inside the plots
KEY OUTCOMES
• Promote improved management of this area to enhance biodiversity and carbon storage
• Additionally this would sequester carbon from the atmosphere, increased soil fertility, and it will also have multiple benefits to the local populations.
• The longer term research experiments should potential for REDD+ projects
• Provide very valuable information about the Bateke landscape, as there is a relatively limited understanding of this ecosystem.
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