A Case Study of Carbon Sequestration by Sacred Groves of Mundra Taluka, Kachchh District, Gujarat.

Sacred groves are those forest patches that are connected with the religious and traditional values and beliefs of local people. Plants which are grown near the grove are called sacred plants. Sacred groves include several endemic, endangered and ecologically important plant species. In other words, sacred groves are natural conservation units for biodiversity. Sacred groves and sacred plants are protected and conserved due to the strong religious and mythological beliefs of local people. Their beliefs are as strong as their social traditions. The religious and cultural rites that are performed in the groves give it protection, as well as assisting in keeping the sacred grove in immaculate condition and ensuring the maintenance of its plants. As it is known that the trees are cutting day- by-day and on the other hand Sacred trees which grow near sacred groves are not under threat of cutting due to religious and cultural beliefs. Therefore, Sacred trees or sacred forest a potential role in the sequestration of atmospheric CO 2 in the form of biomass. To estimation of Biomass and carbon sequestration in the Sacred tree species have been using a non-destructive method. The main focus of the current article is on estimating the carbon sequestration of sacred tree species in sacred groves found in selected areas Mundra Taluka of Kachchh District. Total 32 sacred groves were recorded from 18 villages which cover approximately 12.77 hectares of land area. Carbon sequestration of 172 individuals of 16 tree species was estimated through the standard method. Ficus benghalensis L. sequestered maximum carbon, i.e., 5.48 tones followed by Azadirachta indica A. Juss. (4.34 tones), Syzigium cumini (L.) Skeels (3.79 tones) While the lowest carbon sequestration was recorded in Pithecellobium dulce (Roxb.) Benth (0961 tones), Prosopsis cineraria (L.) Druce (0.907


Introduction
The daily anthropogenic advancements of humans have led to an increase in global carbon emissions.In the modern world, Industrialization and Urbanization will lead to a continuous increase in air pollution and the earth's average temperature.According to studies, the amount of carbon in the atmosphere is increasing by about 2,600,000 kg every year. 1 India has the second-highest population after China and is the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, accounting for around 5.3% of all emissions worldwide. 2To achieve the goal of the UNFCC Paris agreement to reduce the rise in the world average temperature far below 2 °C, Carbon sequestration projects are necessitated in every part of the world. 3er the decade of 2020, to achieve net-zero carbon targets by 2050, it is predicted that global CO 2 emissions reduced by 7.6% annually4.The least expensive way to minimize this gas is by biological sequestration of carbon in plants.6][7] Sacred groves are known as the small patches of conserved forests protected by man's spiritual beliefs and cultural practices.These sacred forest patches were studied from the ecological, environmental, and floristic points of view by several research workers.Due to their religious and mythological myths and beliefs, sacred groves and sacred plants are conserved well.Apart from being conserved, these sacred plants can also have a higher potential for carbon sequestration.
The Current paper presents the carbon sequestration potential of sacred trees of sacred groves of Mundra taluka of Kachchh district.This paper provides also a total number of sacred groves and sacred trees with their taxonomical details.

Study Sites
The present study was conducted in selected study areas in Mundra taluka of Kachchh district from October 2021 to September 2022.A total of 32 sacred groves was observed in 18 villages of Mundra taluka.Mundra is a small town and it is situated near the Arabian Sea.It is situated between 22.8396⁰ N and 69.7241⁰ E. It is one of the largest Private ports of Mundra situated on the north shores of the Gulf of Kachchh.The maximum and minimum temperatures were recorded 15⁰ C in winter and 38⁰ C in summer respectively.The average temperature of this region is about 27 ⁰C.

Enumeration Method for Sacred plant species
The plants that grow near the grove which considered Sacred plant species.By using local flora, Gujarat state flora8 all the recorded plant species were identified and arranged according to Bentham & Hooker's classification system.

Method for Biomass
The biomass of sacred tree species was estimated using a non-destructive method.The above-ground biomass was calculated by using a model created by. 9 The following formula is used for estimating the biomass of sacred tree species.Y= exp.{ -2.4090 + 0.9522 In (D 2 × H × S)} Where Y is the above-ground biomass (kg), H is the height of trees (meter), D is the diameter at breast height (1.3m) in cm, and S is the wood density (t/m 3 ), Exp.= [.........] signifies "raised to the power of [.........]".The wood densities for tree species were obtained from the website www.worldagroforestycentre.org.The 15% value of the above-ground biomass was used to determine the below-ground biomass. 10

Method for Measuring the Height of Tree Species
Using an Abney Clinometer, tree species' heights were measured.The formula used to calculate the tree species' height is as follows 11 Tanθ = BC/AC, where AB is equal to Tanθ and AC is the distance from the tree as measured by a measuring tape.

Method for measurement of DBH
Trees with girth at breast height (GBH) greater than 10 cm were classified as part of an established regeneration sampling, and the DBH (Diameter at Breast Height) was calculated by measuring the tree's GBH at a height of roughly 1.32 meters above the ground by using the measuring tape.By dividing the actual girth of the tree species by (3.14), or GBH/3.14, the DBH of the tree species was determined. 12GBH of 172 individuals of 16 tree species was measured.

Total Biomass (TB)
The total Biomass of trees is considered as the sum of the above and below grounds biomass. 13

Method for measuring the Carbon Sequestration
Of the total biomass of trees, 72.5% is considered dry biomass14.Out of 72.5%, 50% of dry biomass is Carbon. 15

Result and Discussion
The selected sites show the flora diversity of Mundra taluka's Sacred grove.A total of 38 Plant species was recorded.

Table 5 : Carbon Sequestration of Tree Species
Conclusion During my research work total of 32 sacred groves were recorded from 18 villages of selected study sites.Which covers approximately 12.27 hectares of the land surface area.total 127 individuals of 16 tree species carbon sequestration measured.Out of the total 16 tree species, Ficus benghalensis L. was recorded with 5.84 tons of carbon storage in only 8 individuals while Azadirachta indica A. Juss.was recorded with 4.34 tons of carbon storage in 52 individuals.Syzigium cumini (L.) Skeels was recorded with 3.79 tons of carbon storage in only 12 individuals.This indicates carbon sequestration is not only dependent on the individual number's species.It depends on the Biomass of the species.A low number of individuals with high biomass can store more carbon than a high number of individuals with low Biomass.