Aboveground Biomass in Humid Tropical Wetland Forests of the Republic of Congo, Congo Basin

Tree aboveground biomass (AGB) distribution and carbon storage in different DBH (diameter at breast height) classes were calculated and compared between three different humid forest of the north of Congo (peat land’s forest, seasonally flooded forest, and terra ferma forest) mainly in the forest of Likouala. AGB carbon stock varies in this study from 82 MgC.ha -1 to 404 MgC.ha -1 across the five sites where data were recorded (68 plots) with an average AGB of 223 MgC.ha -1 . The AGB in the peat land forest was slightly low compared to the other two forest types. Trees ? 60 cm in diameter coupled with over high wood density of 0.70 g.m- 3 explained 91% of the variability among plots in aboveground biomass obtained in this study. These trees represent less than 20% of the total trees sampled. This study revealed a complex relationship between biodiversity of forest trees in this area and aboveground biomass.