Abstract:
The study aimed to identify and classify areas of Eucalyptus plantation into age
classes using LANDSAT imageries interpretation, and to quantify the carbon
sequestration and storage capacity of the age classes of a Eucalyptus plantation in Sra
Kaew using an integration of field measurements and remote sensing operations.
Five age classes classified as 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 were established based on the 5
years utilization of Eucalyptus in Thailand. Three classification methods were used in
the age class classification of this Eucalyptus plantation: maximum likelihood
classification; age class model developed from the integration of Normalized
Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Bare Soil Index (BI) and Water Index (WI); and
logical operation.
Percent accuracy for age class classification using maximum likelihood
classification, age class model and logical operation were 83.33%, 60.83% and
72.50%, respectively. Accuracy of maximum likelihood classification was higher by
22.50% and 10.83% from age class model and logical operation, respectively. Thus,
maximum likelihood classification was the most suitable age class classification
approach for the Eucalyptus plantation in Sra Kaew.
In the carbon sequestration and storage determination, species-specific
equations were used to quantify the total above ground biomass of age classes 1 to 5.
The capacity of Eucalyptus plantation age class 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 to store carbon was
calculated at 1.68, 9.09, 15.60, 25.62 and 25.90 tons C/ha, respectively. While the
amount of annual carbon accumulation or the sequestration rate was quantified at 1.68,
4.55, 5.20, 6.41 and 5.18 t C/ha/yr for age classes 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 respectively.
The total area of Eucalyptus plantation in Sra Kaew was computed at
26,708.89 hectares. The storage capacity of the Eucalyptus plantation was quantified
at 403,125.96 tons. The Eucalyptus plantation has an annual carbon sequestration rate
of 123,987.93 tons of carbon. Thus, the Eucalyptus plantation in Sra Kaew can
remove 455,035.70 tons of CO2 per year from the atmosphere