Quantifying carbon stocks in Cameroon’s Volcanic Highlands: Land cover dynamics and biodiversity implications on Mount Bamboutos (1992-2050)

Abstract

This study quantified the impacts of land-use and land cover change (LULCC) on carbon stock dynamics and biodiversity conservation capacity across the southern slope of the Mount Bamboutos Caldera, Cameroon. This study used a multitemporal remote sensing analysis (1992–2023), field-based biomass inventories (30 plots), and spatial modeling (InVEST Carbon Model) to quantify carbon stocks, ecological fragmentation, and biodiversity trends across Mount Bamboutos Caldera's Southern Slope. Results revealed a 23.6% decline in dense montane forest cover, replaced primarily by grassland/cropland (+16.6%), resulting in substantial carbon stock losses. Mean aboveground carbon densities fell from 159.15 Mg C ha⁻¹ (forest) to 28.06 Mg C ha⁻¹ (cropland). Tree species richness concurrently decreased by 79% (115 to 24 species), with Shannon diversity indices confirming severe biotic homogenization. Regression analyses identified diameter at breast height (DBH) and canopy height as primary carbon stock drivers (R² = 0.738, p < 0.001). Spatiotemporal projections to 2050 indicate cropland dominance (50.7% coverage), further fragmenting highcarbon habitats and reducing ecosystem resilience. The study recommends urgent landscape restoration via agroforestry adoption, protected-area reinforcement, and REDD+-aligned carbon finance mechanisms.