American Journal of Life Sciences 2015; 3(3): 190-202 Published online May 18, 2015 (http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/j/ajls) doi: 10.11648/j.ajls.20150303.20 ISSN: 2328-5702 (Print); ISSN: 2328-5737 (Online) Allometric Equation for Biomass Determination in Juniperus procera Endl. and Podocarpus falcatus Mirb of Wof-Washa Forest: Implication for Climate Change Mitigation Eyosias Worku, Teshome Soromessa Center for Environmental Science, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Email address: Eyoyapi@yahoo.com (E. Worku) To cite this article: Eyosias Worku, Teshome Soromessa. Allometric Equation for Biomass Determination in Juniperus procera Endl. and Podocarpus falcatus Mirb of Wof-Washa Forest: Implication for Climate Change Mitigation. American Journal of Life Sciences. Vol. 3, No. 3, 2015, pp. 190-202. doi: 10.11648/j.ajls.20150303.20 Abstract: Estimation of net above ground biomass in forest ecosystems by non-destructive means requires the development of allometric equations, to allow prediction of above ground biomass from readily measurable variables such as Diameter at Breast Height (DBH). Equations of this type have not been well developed for trees of Wof-Washa Forest. In the present study, trees of two species namely Juniperus procera and Podocarpus falcatus, with three diameter classes (30-50 cm, 51-70 cm and 71-100cm) with the aim of developing appropriate allometric equations were characterized. Each species considered separately, there was significant variation among the slopes and elevations of the equations obtained for each. The allometric equation that was obtained for the two species had significant (P> 0.000) fit for linear model. The difference between DBH-biomass relationships among these species can be attributed to differences in the distribution of biomass among trunk-plus-large- branches, secondary branches and leaves, and also woody tissue density. Comparison of these results with those obtained using a previously published allometric model revealed significant differences with biomass estimation. It is believed that previously published allometric model corresponding to above ground biomass in dry forests may bear errors, and propose the new equations to be used in the future for the two species and that other one have to become developed for the remaining species. Keywords: Above Ground Biomass, Allometric Equations, Climate Change Mitigation, Wof-Washa Forest, Non-Destructive Method 1. Introduction Estimation of forest biomass is the most accurate and economical way of studying the change in carbon stocks. Studying carbon stocks has the capacity to measure the amount of carbon which accumulated in specific forest. The method which has mostly been used for estimate forest biomass is through the help of allometric equation. Allometry is all about studying the relative size of plant parts. Usually relationship between diameters at breast height (DBH), tree height, total biomass and leaf weight, etc. Due to their sake of energy utilization trees consume CO 2 and release O 2 through the process called photosynthesis. This process is one of the media that carbon passes through in its life cycle and much of the carbon, almost half of the carbon they consumed, is stack in the tissues of a tree. By studying the relative size of plant parts it is possible to measure the biomass of a tree which also has potentials to estimate how much carbon stock is present in plant parts. Therefore, estimation of biomass is crucial to indicate the carbon sequestration potential of a forest or a tree and also it is very important to assess the impact of climate change and sustainable forest management. Measurement of biomass should take place at local and regional scales for estimating their carbon sequestration and evaluate ecosystem response to carbon change and anthropogenic disturbance. This local and regional scale estimation of biomass will have advance role to cope up the general UNFCCC goal which was stabilizing the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, forests or trees (UNFCCC, 2006).