Associate Professor Birhanu Kebede Kuris of Ambo University, Ethiopia, delivered a seminar on May 9, 2025, at the Institute of Applied Ecology (IAE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, spotlighting the vital role of tropical forests in the global carbon cycle. His presentation, attended by over 20 researchers, including Professors Achalu Chimdi and Alemayehu Adugna of Ambo University and senior researchers from IAE, highlighted the urgent need for more precise methodologies to quantify forest carbon stocks and biodiversity.

In his address, titled “Analysis of Plant Biodiversity and Carbon Stock in Tropical Forests of Ethiopia,” Associate Professor Kuris revealed that Ethiopia’s tropical woodlands, despite their rich species diversity and significant carbon sequestration potential, are currently underrepresented in global carbon assessments. He posited that conventional biomass estimation models—often relying on generalized allometric equations—fail to adequately capture the complexity of mixed‑species stands. By introducing species‑specific allometric equations derived from regression models, Dr. Kuris demonstrated how accuracy of carbon stock estimates can be substantially improved, a step he deemed essential for robust carbon monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) mechanisms.

The seminar ignited a thorough discussion on methodological innovation, with participants exploring the development of allometric growth models that account for species‑ and age‑related variations, as well as strategies to fully evaluate the carbon sequestration capacity of Ethiopia’s forests. Researchers from IAE, including Drs.  Fang Yunting, Zhang Weidong, and Kang Ronghua, exchanged insights with their Ethiopian counterparts on integrating these refined equations into carbon accounting frameworks, thereby enhancing the reliability of climate‑related data used by policymakers and carbon markets.

This visit signifies another important step in the growing partnership between IAE and Ambo University, which began in 2023. A delegation from IAE visited Ambo in February 2024 to formalize their collaboration with a memorandum of understanding. Subsequent exchanges in May and November 2024 brought Professors Chimdi, Bayisa Leta Danno, and Niguse Bekele to IAE. Earlier this March, Professors Chimdi and Dr. Adugna commenced a six‑month residency under the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Belt and Road Visiting Scholars Programme, further solidifying collaborative research on carbon and nitrogen cycling in terrestrial ecosystems.

Looking forward, both institutions have committed to strengthening their joint investigations into ecosystem stability and biogeochemical processes, with the aim of equipping developing nations with advanced scientific tools to address climate change.

Fig. 1.  Meeting scene at the Shenyang Institute of Ecology