Assessment of long-term protection on the aboveground biomass and organic carbon content using two non-destructive techniques: case of the Sidi Toui National Park in southern Tunisia

Long-term protection of arid ecosystems changes the vegetation and soil structures. The quantification aboveground biomass carbon content are among principal indicators to evaluate these changes. Most methods used quantify parameters costly, time consuming destructive. In this paper, two non-destructive were compared: digital image processing biometric measurements. Aboveground five perennial shrubs studied inside outside Sidi Toui National Park, southern Tunisia. effect long-term on was assessed. main results indicated that both provided similar values. strongly correlated with canopy cover biovolume (R2 ? 0.7). Positive linear relationships found for all species. Apart from large Haloxylon schmittianum scoparium, obtained showed had no significant other These suggest charting technique is an accurate method assessing rangeland productivity in a timely cost-efficient manner not always suitable enhancing therefore ecosystem resilience under climate change conditions.