Estimación de carbono retenido en zonas de restauración asistida de bosque seco tropical en el proyecto hidroeléctrico el Quimbo, Huila- Colombia

Abstract

In Colombia, the tropical dry forest (bs-T) has suffered loss of cover and degradation, generating threats to ecosystem systems and the biodiversity it provides, such as carbon sequestration. Additionally, the various efforts in ecological restoration processes have failed to provide an evaluation of the evolution of the ecosystem in response to these stimuli, therefore, it is necessary to know how the biomass varies and how the intervened ecosystem contributes to biological carbon sequestration, which is key to contribute to the restoration processes. Therefore, the objective of this research was to quantify the carbon sequestered in assisted restoration areas of tropical dry forest of the El Quimbo Hydroelectric Project, Huila-Colombia; for this purpose, twelve permanent monitoring plots of 0.1 ha were established, which resulted in a total of 2,101 individuals, which contribute 4.01 t.ha-1 in aboveground biomass, which in terms of carbon corresponds to 2. 01t.ha-1 . The species with the highest biomass contribution are Pseudosamanea guachapele (0.45 t.ha-1 ), Samanea saman (0.43 t. ha-1), Enterolobium cyclocarpum (0.41 t. ha-1), Gliricidia sepium (0.39 t. ha-1), Vachellia farnesiana (0.27 t. ha-1) and Ochroma pyramidale (0.24 t. ha-1). In terms of leaf litter, a contribution of 2,243.85 g/m2 was obtained, with a weekly productivity of 557.59 g/m2 per week. The carbon content in the soil is 755.74 tons in 4.5m2. Finally, the study contributes to quantify with better precision the provision of ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration in one of the most threatened ecosystems, facilitating the improvement of ecological restoration processes that occur in these ecosystems with emphasis on their conservation.