Structural characterization and identification of the potential carbon stock of giant trees in the native forest of Monte Carmelo, Minas Gerais

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21814/physisterrae.7139

Keywords:

Forest Management, Climate Change, GEDI, Forest Conservation, Landscape Management

Abstract

Forest preservation is one of the most efficient ways to combat global warming and climate change, as forests absorb and store one of the main greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide (CO2), through photosynthesis. This study aimed to perform a geospatial mapping of the location and structure of giant trees located in the Matinha Park, in the municipality of Monte Carmelo (MG), and to quantify the potential carbon stock of these trees. The mapping was carried out using Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI), a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology, in order to characterize the vegetation structure present in the area. Through field validation, 29 trees were identified, distributed among 8 species, with heights up to 28 meters and a diameter at breast height (DBH) of 85.31 centimeters. Among them, the species Apuleia leiocarpa (Vogel) J.F.Macbr. (garapa) is on the Official List of Threatened Species of Brazilian Flora. The carbon calculation resulted in a total stock of 110.70 tCO2, highlighting the species with the largest stocks: Calophyllum brasiliense Cambess. (cedro-do-brejo) (15.22 tCO2), Copaifera langsdorffii Desf. (copaíba) (40.25 tCO2) and Didymopanax morototoni (Aubl.) Decne. & Planch (mandiocão) (19.73 tCO2). These results demonstrate the high importance of the full protection of these trees and their surrounding forest matrix, because in addition to being a shelter and a food source for fauna, they highlight their potential for air decarbonization and climate change mitigation.

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Author Biographies

  • Rafael Maick dos Santos, Português (Brasil)

    Rafael Maick dos Santos is a student in the Forestry Engineering course at the Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU), Monte Carmelo campus. He is also a member of NUPLAMFLOR (Center for Studies, Research and Extension in Planning and Management of the Forest Landscape), where he conducts his studies in the area of ​​geotechnologies, environmental regularization and restoration, Rural Environmental Registry (CAR), thematic mapping, projects and research.

  • Maria Izabel Maciel da Silva, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU)

    Maria Izabel Maciel da Silva is an undergraduate student in Forestry Engineering at the Center for Studies, Research and Extension in Planning and Management of the Forest Landscape; Institute of Agricultural Sciences (ICIAG), Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU). She has experience in the area of ​​Forest Resources and Forestry Engineering, with an emphasis on Technology and Industrialization of Forest Products, mainly working on the following topics: ecological adhesives, tannin and forest products.

  • Jacqueline Bonfim e Cândido, Português (Brasil)

    Jacqueline Bonfim e Cândido holds a degree in Biological Sciences from the Federal University of Viçosa (2014) and a Master's degree in Forestry and Environmental Sciences from the Federal University of Tocantins (2016). She worked on the taxonomic study of the tribe Vernonieae (Asteraceae) and the identification of Cerrado tree species using dendrological characters, respectively. In 2022, she received her doctorate from the Postgraduate Program in Plant Biology at the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), where she worked on the project "Systematics and Evolution of Piptolepis Sch.Bip. (Compositae, Vernonieae)". Currently, she is an Adjunct Professor at the Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU), Monte Carmelo campus (MG). Her research areas and interests include: Taxonomy of phanerogams; Floristics, Dendrology, and biodiversity conservation.

  • Vicente Toledo Machado de Morais Junior, Português (Brasil)

    Vicente Toledo Machado de Morais Junior is an adjunct professor of Forestry Engineering at the Institute of Agricultural Sciences (ICIAG) of the Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU), Monte Carmelo campus (MG), since 2024. He holds a Master's degree (2017) and a Doctorate (2021) in Forest Science from the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV) in the area of ​​Forest Management, with a research focus on environmental conservation with an emphasis on carbon management. He has worked as a technical member of the company Brandt Meio Ambiente as a Senior Analyst in various environmental licensing projects, International Environmental Certifications, and Due Diligences since 2019. He coordinates the Center for Studies, Research and Extension in Planning and Management of the Forest Landscape (NUPLAMFLOR) at UFU. He is a reviewer for several scientific journals. He supervised undergraduate students at UFV and graduate students at the Federal Institute of Espírito Santo (IFES) and the Federal Institute of Acre (IFAC). Research areas and interests: - Bioeconomy - with emphasis on Greenhouse Gas Management and Climate Change; - Forest Policy and Legislation; - Forest Protection; - Ecosystem Services and Payments for Environmental Services; - Ecosystem Restoration.

  • Luciano Cavalcante de Jesus França, Português (Brasil)

    Luciano Cavalcante de Jesus França is an adjunct professor of Forestry Engineering at the Institute of Agricultural Sciences (ICIAG) of the Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU), Monte Carmelo campus (MG), since 2022, in the area of ​​Forest Management, with an emphasis on forest landscapes and climate change. He is also a permanent professor in the Postgraduate Program in Forest Science at the Federal University of the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys (UFVJM), in Diamantina (MG), since 2024. He holds a PhD in Forestry Engineering from the Federal University of Lavras (UFLA - 2022) in the area of ​​Forest Management, with a research focus on forest planning and geotechnologies applied to land use management for forestry projects. Master's degree in Forest Sciences from the Federal University of the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys (UFVJM - 2018) in the area of ​​conservation and restoration of forest ecosystems, with a 'sandwich' period in the Ecology and Environment Program at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto (FCUP - 2017), in Portugal. He is a Forestry Engineer graduated from the Federal University of Piauí (UFPI - 2016). He worked as a substitute professor at the Federal Institute of Minas Gerais (IFMG), Bambuí campus, between 2021 and 2022. Since 2022, he has served as Scientific Editor of the CERNE Journal (ISSN: 2317-6342) and Guest Editor of the Sustainability Journal MDPI (ISSN: 2071-1050). He works at the Center for Study and Research on Environmental and Productive Zoning (NEPZAP) at UFU and is a collaborator at NEPZAP at UFVJM. He coordinates the Center for Studies, Research and Extension in Planning and Management of Forest Landscapes (NUPLAMFLOR) at UFU and leads the aforementioned Research Group at CNPq. He is a tutor at Reforest Jr., UFU's junior forestry engineering company (since 2024). He is also the coordinator of the Center for Training in Climate Education (CEFEC/Sala Verde) at UFU, a space endorsed by the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change. His scientific interests include: Georeferenced Forest Information Systems, Forest Planning, Native Forest Management, Forest Landscape Ecology, Management of Conservation Units, Ecosystem Services, Climate Change, and Bioeconomy. Since 2013, he has coordinated efforts to maintain the Central Florestal website, an extension activity (registered with SIEX-UFU) aimed at prospective and current forestry engineering students, with efforts to disseminate information about the course, teaching, career, and history of the profession in the country (accessible at: www.centralflorestal.com.br and on major social networks).

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Published

2026-09-23

Issue

Vol. 8 No. 1 (2026)

Section

Biogeography and landscape

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Rafael Maick dos Santos, Maria Izabel Maciel da Silva, Jacqueline Bonfim e Cândido, Vicente Toledo Machado de Morais Junior, Luciano Cavalcante de Jesus França

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Structural characterization and identification of the potential carbon stock of giant trees in the native forest of Monte Carmelo, Minas Gerais. (2026). Physis Terrae - Ibero-Afro-American Journal of Physical Geography and Environment, 8(1), e202605. https://doi.org/10.21814/physisterrae.7139