Applicability of semi-destructive method to derive allometric model for estimating aboveground biomass and carbon stock in the Hill zone of Bangladesh

Biomass estimation using allometric models is a nondestructive and popular method. Selection of an allometric model can influence the accuracy of biomass estimation. Bangladesh Forest Department initiated a nationwide forest inventory to assess biomass and carbon stocks in trees and forests. The relationship between carbon storage and sequestration in a forest has implications for climate change mitigation in terms of the carbon sink in Bangladesh. As part of the national forest inventory, we aimed to derive multi-species biomass models for the hill zone of Bangladesh and to determine the carbon concentration in tree components (leaves, branches, bark and stem). In total, 175 trees of 14 species were sampled and a semi-destructive method was used to develop a biomass model, which included development of smaller branch (base dia