Carbon Emissions from Selective Logging: Case of FMU 1525 (Southern Cameroon)

Logging activities significantly impact climate change by contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. However, scientific data on this subject for African forests is limited. This study assesses carbon emission rates resulting from selective logging in Cameroon and proposes measures to mitigate emissions associated with this activity. The research was conducted in Annual Cutting Area 3-1 of Forest Management Unit 1525, known as the "Municipal Forest of Efoulan and Ebolowa 1st." Field data on damaged and extracted biomass were collected across three 15-ha plots and compiled in Microsoft Excel. GPS-derived spatial data were processed using DNRGPS and visualized with ArcGIS 10.5. Allometric equations were applied to dendrometric measurements to estimate aboveground biomass, which was converted to carbon using a factor of 0.5. Emission factors were calculated per cubic meter of extracted wood, and polynomial regression models were used to extrapolate results to the entire cutting area. Open-ended questionnaires administered to site staff and direct field observations evaluated logging technique compliance. Data analysis revealed a logging intensity of 1.6 stems/ha with an average extracted volume of 16.18 m³/ha. Infrastructure construction was identified as the primary source of carbon emissions at 0.497 t C/m³, followed by residues from extracted wood at 0.412 t C/m³. The overall emission factor was 1.067 t C/m³ logged, totaling approximately 17.072 t C/ha. Evaluation of logging techniques indicated that low-impact logging practices (LIP) were applied only 35% of the time. A work procedure code aligned with the regional LIP code has been proposed to reduce emissions. The findings underscore the urgent need for improved forest management practices that prioritize sustainability and carbon sequestration, with stakeholder engagement enhancing implementation effectiveness.