Estimating Amount of Biomassand Carbon Stock of Eastern Corridor of Selous-NiassaTFCA and its Contribution to Climate Change Adaptation

Abstract

Countries’ authorities that managing unfenced Protected Areas (PAs) as an effort to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem services,airs challenges of climate change and variability which disturb habitat and force wildlife to move to other unprotected areas for adaptation purposes. This scenario necessited the inclusion of those adapted areas into PAs network and recategorise the abandoned PAs. The unprotected areas include wildlife corridors which connects two or more PAs within the country or Transfron tier Conservation Areas (TFCAs). However, corridor dwellers unsustainably utilizing corridor fauna and flora for their livelihoods. This paper explains the less known amount of biomass and carbon stock of eastern Selous -Niassa wildlife corridor which connect ing the two PAs of Tanzania and Mozambique. Specifically, the study estimates amount of biomass stock, amount of carbon stock and amount of conservation profit if adopted REDD+ strategy. Existing data on spatial and temporal land use and land cover of eastern corridor ofSelous -Niassa TFCA of 2016 was analysed to get intended results. The results reveled that, anaverage amount of 52738071tons and 13114780.2 tons of Biomass and Carbon stocks (above ground + below ground + deadwood) respectively for the year 2016. The amount of conservation profit of the area for the year 2016 wasestimated atUS$ 52459124 equivalents to US$ 119.79 per corridor dwellerif REDD+ strategies was adopted. Thisprofit seems to offset benefit received by corridor dwellers from their destructive activities. The foreseeable future necessitates inclusion of the area into core PAs, however, there is a cost which the government must incur in order to safeguard the adaptation scenarios of wildlife suffered from climate change and variability in core PAs without compromising livelihoods of corridor dwellers.