Apoyo en el análisis exploratorio de contenidos de carbono en cobertura herbazal de alta montaña y turbera para dos localidades de páramo: Duitama y Güican de la Sierra en el Departamento de Boyacá, Colombia.

Abstract

The páramo ecosystem is strategic due to its role in water provision and regulation, biodiversity refuge, and carbon sequestration. This last ecosystem service is key to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and mitigating climate change. Knowing the amount of carbon stored by this ecosystem is essential for its conservation and sustainable management. In this study, 15 square plots of 0.0169 hectares were established, distributed across two types of páramo vegetation cover. For herbaceous cover, five plots were established in the municipality of Güicán de la Sierra and five in Duitama, Boyacá, Colombia. For peatland cover, five plots were installed exclusively in Güicán de la Sierra, Boyacá. In the herbaceous cover, 17 species and 971 individuals were recorded through vegetation sampling. The average values were: 18.63 (t/ha) of biomass, 8.76 (tC/ha) of carbon in biomass, and 32.11 (tCO₂eq/ha) of CO₂ equivalent. Soil organic carbon (SOC) at a depth of 30 cm averaged 208.63 (t/ha). The species Espeletia lopezii and Espeletia incana were the most representative in terms of biomass, with values of 27.05 (t/ha) and 25.25 (t/ha), respectively. In the Turbera cover, only the species E. lopezii was recorded, with four individuals present. An average of 6.19 (t/ha) was obtained in biomass, 2.91 (tC/ha) in biomass carbon, and 10.67 (tCO₂eq/ha) in CO₂ equivalent. Compared to soil organic carbon (SOC), a cumulative value of 874.67 (t/ha) was estimated to a depth of 266 cm. The average depth recorded was 2.09 m, within which an accumulation of 622.03 (t/ha) of SOC was estimated, equivalent to an emission factor of 114.04 (tCO₂eq/ha). The values obtained are consistent with previous reports on biomass, carbon, and SOC in Colombian páramos. This highlights the relevance of these ecosystems in climate change conservation and mitigation strategies. It also suggests significant potential for GHG reduction projects and carbon credit generation.