Carbon Sequestration Potential of The Main Tree Species and Vegetation Formations in The Ecological Zone of Sudan in Mali

Savannah plant formations have enormous carbon sequestration potential, which contributes to the reduction of climate change effects. However, countries in savannah areas do not receive sufficient funds to ensure the conservation and management of forests, however, this potential is poorly exploited. This study aims to contribute to the knowledge of building and estimating the carbon sequestration capacity of tree species in different vegetation formations of the Sudan ecological zone of Mali. This research was conducted in Dioïla district located in Koulikoro region. Both primary and secondary data were used. Primary data were generated from the use of forest inventory questionnaires while the secondary data were generated from the Technical Service of Water and Forests of Mali. The stratified two-stage sampling method was used to collect data. Tree measurements (dendrometical inventory) were performed in the four vegetation formations encountered. Different statistical software was used for data analysis. The amount of carbon sequestered varies according to the vegetation formations area. The agroforestry parks and fallow are the formation that have the largest amount of carbon (12,091,159.49 tons). The carbon sequestration capacity is higher in woody savanna and arborous savannah than in other vegetation formations in the study area. The species Vitellaria paradoxa G. Don, have the higher carbon sequestration capacity in vegetation formations of Park agroforestry and Fallow (11. 087 t C ha^-1) and of arborous savannah (9.5 t C ha^-1). While in the vegetation formation of the shrubby savannah Daniellia oliveri (Rolfe) Hutch. & Dalziel has the higher carbon sequestration capacity (4. 04 t C ha^-1). The amount of carbon sequestered, and the number of tree species are significatively correlated to trees circumference. It will be interesting to conduct a longterm experiment to study and a better understanding of the carbon sequestration capacity of tree species of Sudan ecological zone of Mali.

Keywords: Carbon sequestration; Tree species; Vegetation formation; Sudanian zone; Mali