Soil stratum measurement for sampling. Photo: Alba Saray Pérez Terán
A field trip was organized by the head of the MRV component, Richard Sufo Kankeu, in order to build the COBAM team’s skills in carbon measurement techniques. The activity took place on 17 and 18 May 2013 at Ebom near Lolodorf, Ocean department, South region. Ebom is a village with biogeographic and climatic characteristics similar to those of the COBAM project sites, namely moist tropical forest and semi-deciduous forest.
The team separates leaves from branches to weight them and prepare lab samples. Photo: Alba Saray Pérez Terán
The main objective of the field trip was to set up sampling plots and measure different carbon pools. COBAM researchers learned the techniques, tools, and forest carbon evaluation methods.
Richard Sufo Kankeu (Head of the MRV component within COBAM team) shows the techniques for tree parameters measurement (DBH, height). Photo: Alba Saray Pérez Terán
Establishing permanent square and concentric circular sampling plots led to an appropriate choice of methodologies to be used. The team saw that concentric plots were the best adapted for rain forest conditions. In fact, the time needed to set up the plot is shorter and less staff is needed than for the square plots which require more time and labor. This observation can reduce MRV costs.
COBAM team installs a sampling plot for carbon measurements. Photo: Alba Saray Pérez Terán
Regarding carbon pools, several measurements have been made on trees, with an emphasis on litter, herbaceous vegetation and soil samples. Samples have been brought back to the Yaoundé office for future analysis.
The COBAM team has become familiar with forest carbon evaluation tools and techniques as a result of the field trip.
Richard Sufo Kankeu