article · Trends in Environmental Sciences
A survey assessed plant species diversity and carbon accumulation across two golf courses, NASME and New Bridge, located in Makurdi, Benue State. The investigation evaluated dominant trees, shrubs, and 78 herb species from 28 families within designated sample plots. The findings reveal that Parkia biglobosa accumulated the greatest carbon stock, recording the highest levels of above-ground and below-ground biomass across both study locations. In contrast, Polyanthia longifolia and Tectona grandis exhibited the lowest above-ground biomass. The NASME golf course demonstrated higher overall plant diversity, species richness, and evenness than the New Bridge site. Among herbaceous flora, species such as Vernonia cinerea and Mitracarpus villosus recorded high relative densities and importance values. Variations in biomass and carbon stocks between the two courses reflect the direct influence of local habitat disturbance levels.
Human activities increasingly fragment natural ecosystems, making managed green spaces such as golf courses relevant for biodiversity conservation and climate mitigation. Measuring species richness and carbon storage in these landscapes helps land managers understand how maintenance affects carbon sequestration. Identifying specific tree species that maximise carbon capture informs better planting choices for urban greening and environmental management.
The abstract provides early-stage baseline ecological data without an explicit commercialisation pathway. Nevertheless, the species-specific carbon metrics could inform environmental consultancies, urban landscape developers, and green space managers seeking to select optimal tree species for urban forestry or voluntary carbon credit projects. Moving these findings toward operational application would require applied testing to standardise carbon accounting methodologies in managed turf and parkland settings.
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Background and Objective: There is an increasing trend in anthropogenic activities in the destruction of natural habitats of plants and less awareness of conservation measures, including the consequence of actions on the ecosystems.A survey was conducted to investigate the species diversity and carbon stock potential of trees, herbs, and soil at NASME and New Bridge Golf Course, Makurdi, Benue State.Materials and Methods: Each Golf course was divided into two plots of 100×100 m, and each plot had three quadrats was resulting in a total of twelve quadrats for both Golf courses.The biomass and carbon stock of 50 dominant trees and shrubs, 12 species of trees, and 78 species of herbs from 28 families were evaluated.Above and below ground trees and shrubs' biomass was determined using allometric equations, and herbs and grasses biomass was estimated using the stable oven dry weight method.Results: Parkia biglobosa had the highest SCO 2 E (7655.17kg) and TSC/Tree (2085.88kg) in both study locations.Parkia biglobosa also had the highest record in above-ground (5348.40kg) and below-ground (3476.46kg) biomass, lowest above-ground biomass recorded in Polyanthia longifolia and Tectona grandis (71.74 kg).Diversity index (Shannon-Weiner) (2.15), species evenness (0.93), and richness (10.00) were evaluated highest in the NASME Golf course.Vernonia cinerea had the highest relative frequency (0.122), relative density (12.25), relative abundance (0.061), and IVI (12.44).The FVI was highest in Cyperaceae (24.27) and least in Cucurbitaceae (0.2) at the NASME golf course.Mitracarpus villosus had the highest relative frequency (0.127), relative density (12.72), relative abundance (0.06), and IVI (12.91), while Poaceae had the highest FVI (26.22).Conclusion: In both study sites, the total number of trees, herbs, and soil collected demonstrates that there are differences in carbon stock in both sampled sites based on the degree of disturbance.
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DOI: 10.21124/tes.2025.327.345
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