Assessing stand development controls on carbon sequestration and carbon credit value in tropical introduced teak...

Plantation forestry is increasingly promoted as a nature-based solution for climate change mitigation in tropical regions due to its capacity to store carbon while generating economic value. This study evaluated age-related variation in stand structure, biomass, carbon stocks, and associated economic returns in introduced teak (Tectona grandis) plantations in Nigeria. Field data were collected from four age classes (12, 15, 21, and 23 years) using a stratified random sampling approach, and relationships were analyzed using generalized linear models, principal component analysis, and Mantel tests. Stand structure varied significantly with plantation age, with mean diameter at breast height increasing from 15.03 to 20.58 cm and mean height from 18.27 to 23.90 m, while stand density declined from 348 to 89 trees ha^-1. Basal area and biomass increased with age, leading to higher carbon stocks, with aboveground carbon rising from 30.21 to 47.47 Mg C ha^-1. Consequently, carbon sequestration potential increased from 158.90 to 236.42 Mg CO₂e ha^-1, with associated carbon credit values rising from US$3178 to US$4752. The results indicate that introduced teak plantations in Nigeria function as effective carbon sinks with increasing economic benefits over time. These findings highlight the potential of plantation forestry to contribute to climate mitigation and climate-smart forest management in tropical regions.