Printed in the Philippines ASIA LIFE SCIENCES 24(1): 277-284, 2015 The Asian International Journal of Life Sciences Received 03 July 2013; Accepted 19 August 2013 ©Rushing Water Publishers Ltd. 2014 Carbon storage potential of four long term ecological research (LTER) sites in Mindanao, Philippines based on forest inventory data RICO A. MARIN 1* , ADRIAN M. TULOD 1 , JENNIFER G. OPISO 2 , FLORFE M. ACMA 2 , RONALD R. BALDO 3 , FULGENT C. CORITICO 4 and VICTOR B. AMOROSO 5 Forest inventory data are important for adaptive forest ecosystem management especially in the context of a changing climate. This paper aimed to establish a baseline to understand the present carbon stock of protected forest ecosystems in Mindanao, which is also critical in the long-term monitoring of carbon sequestration potential of these protected ecosystems. Initial and current inventory data for trees and shrubs were used to present the carbon storage potential of four LTER sites in Mindanao, namely: Mt. Kitanglad in Bukidnon, Mt. Hamiguitan in Davao Oriental, Mt. Malindang in Misamis Occidental and Mt. Apo in North Cotabato. A one-hectare permanent plot divided into 20 x 20 m subplots was established in each LTER site and a 100% enumeration of all trees and shrubs with at least 1.0 cm diameter at breast height was conducted for each subplot. Representative subplots totalling 30% sampling intensity for each LTER site were covered in the assessment. Since the four areas are long-term monitoring sites, standard allometric equation for tropical forest with 1500-4000 mm annual rainfall was used in lieu of destructive sampling. Using the biomass estimates, the LTER sites showed slight differences in carbon sequestration potential with Mt. Kitanglad obtaining the highest carbon density with 28.65 ton ha -1 followed by Mt. Malindang with 27.24 ton ha -1 , Mt. Apo with 22.79 ton ha -1 and Mt. Hamiguitan with 18.77 ton ha -1 . These indings are comparable to carbon storage potentials of managed tree plantations suggesting the importance of forest protection in enhancing land-based carbon stocks as well as the role of the country in climate change mitigation. Keywords: carbon sequestration, biomass, long term ecological research (LTER) sites, forest inventory, Mindanao, Philippines 1 College of Forestry and Environmental Science, Central Mindanao University, University Town, Musuan, Bukidnon, Mindanao, Philippines 2 College of Arts and Sciences, Central Mindanao University, University Town, Musuan, Bukidnon, Mindanao, Philippines 3 Science Aide & 4 Program Assisstant, CHED-LTER, CEBREM, Central Mindanao University, University Town, Musuan, Bukidnon, Mindanao, Philippines 5 Director of CEBREM-Central Mindanao,Central Mindanao University, University Town, Musuan, Bukidnon, Mindanao, Philippines * Corresponding author: ricomarin@yahoo.com