A new study from Uttarakhand University of Horticulture and Forestry reveals that Himalayan forests store carbon differently based on elevation. High-altitude deodar forests lock carbon in tree biomass, holding up to 274.85 megagrams per hectare. Lower mixed broadleaf forests store carbon in soil, with active pools up to 13.48 tons per hectare. The findings suggest that conservation strategies must be altitude-specific to maximize carbon sequestration. Researchers studied three forest types in the Garhwal region: deodar, pine, and mixed broadleaf. Deodar forests, dominated by centuries-old conifers, act as living carbon reservoirs in wood. Mixed forests excel at converting organic litter into stable soil carbon. Pine forests fall in between. The team argues that a one-size-fits-all approach misses half the picture. For carbon project developers, this matters. Protecting old-growth conifers preserves biomass carbon, while expanding mixed-species reforestation boosts soil carbon. The research ties into India's National Mission for Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem and UN SDG 15. Longer monitoring and microbial studies are needed to refine the numbers.
