Land use and above-ground biomass changes in a mountain ecosystem, northern Thailand
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ORIGINAL PAPER
Land use and above-ground biomass changes in a mountain ecosystem, northern Thailand Sutheera Hermhuk1,2 • Aingorn Chaiyes3 • Sathid Thinkampheang4 Noppakun Danrad2 • Dokrak Marod1,2
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Received: 3 April 2018 / Accepted: 8 January 2019 Ó Northeast Forestry University 2019
Abstract The conversion of forests into agricultural lands is a major cause of deforestation, particularly in the mountain ecosystems of northern Thailand. It results in a rapid loss of biological diversity of both flora and fauna. In addition, the above-ground biomass (AGB), which can be a major source of carbon storage, is also decreased. This study aimed to predict the AGB in Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai province, based on land-use/land cover (LULC) changes from 2000 to 2030. Landsat-5 TM (2000) and Landsat-8 TM (2015) satellite images were analyzed to predict LULC changes to 2030. Temporary plots (30 m 9 30 m) were established in each LULC type for AGB analysis; trees with diameters at breast height C 4.5 cm were identified and measured. AGB of all LULC types were analyzed based on specific allometric equations of each type. The results show that area of forest and nonProject funding: The work was supported by the Center for Advanced Studies in Tropical Natural Resources (CASTNaR), Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand, and the Kasetsart University Research and Development Institute (KURDI). The online version is available at http://www.springerlink.com Corresponding editor: Tao Xu. & Dokrak Marod [email protected] 1
Center for Advanced Studies in Tropical Natural Resources, NRU-KU, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
2
Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
3
School of Agriculture and Cooperation, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, Bangkok 11120, Thailand
4
Cooperation Center of Thai Forest Ecological Research Network, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
forested areas fluctuated during the study period. Through the first 15 years (2000–2015), 5% (2.9 km2) of forest changed to either agriculture or urban lands, especially mixed deciduous forest and lower montane forest. There was a similar trend in the 2030 prediction, showing the effect of forest fragmentation and the resultant high number of patches. Total AGB tended to decrease over the 30-year period from 12.5 to 10.6 t ha-1 in the first and second periods, respectively. Deforestation was the main factor influencing the loss of AGB (30.6 t ha-1) related to LULC changes. Furthermore, habitat loss would be expected to result in decreased biological diversity. Consequently, a management plan should be developed to avoid unsustainable land use changes, which may adversely affect human well-being. Keywords Land-use changes Above-ground biomass Cellular automata Markov chain Doi Suthep-Pui National Park Chiang Mai province
Introduction Tropical montane forests are rich in biodiversity of both plant and animal species; however, they have been recognized as fragile e
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