Change in aboveground biomass carbon stock following the establishment of exclosures on degraded lands in Tigray, Ethiopia

This dataset contains a vegetation inventory from a study in Ethiopia and these data represent the trees and shrubs found in the exclosures (see methods section).

Aboveground biomass and carbon stocks were measured in three pools; i. e. aboveground biomass of woody plants, herbaceous vegetation and litter. A nested plot, with three sections was used in all land use types to assess the aboveground biomass of woody species, herbs and grasses, and litter. The size and shape of the main plot was fixed based on the diameter size and degree of homogeneity of the plant species sampled in that plot. Accordingly, two plot shapes of different sizes were selected; a rectangular plot of 1000 m2 (0.1 ha) for the E. globulus plantations (Ravindranath and Ostwald, 2008) and a square of 400 m2 (0.04 ha) for the exclosures and grazing lands (WBISPP, 2000). At the southwestern corner of each main plot, a sub-plot of 4 m2 was positioned for the biomass assessment of herbs and grasses. Within the 4 m2 plots, a sub-plot of 1 m2 was established randomly at one of the corners of the sub-plot, for the measurement of litter biomass.

In each main plot located in the exclosures and grazing lands, diameter at stump height (DSH) (30 cm from the ground) and total height of all trees and shrubs were measured. Local names of all plant species were recorded and plant specimens mainly from the foliage were also collected for subsequent identification. Diameter at breast height (DBH) and total height (H) of each E. globulus tree found in the main plot were also measured. DBH and DSH were measured by using calipers graduated in mm. Total height was measured using a meter tape or a hypsometer, depending on the height of the plant. Altitude and coordinates of each plot center were taken using GPS. Average slope was also measured at each plot using a clinometer.