Valoración del servicio ecosistémico carbono orgánico total almacenado en el suelo del área de protección hídrica Quinllunga, provincia de Bolívar

Abstract

Paramos are considered carbon reserves due to their capacity to store organic carbon in the soil (SOC) due to their characteristics such as: low temperature and humidity, high altitudes, geology, etc. These ecosystems capture carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and retain it in the soil since this gas can persist for decades, therefore, the soil has become one of the most vulnerable resources in the world in the face of climate change, land degradation and biodiversity loss. The present investigation was carried out in the Quinllunga Water Protection Area (APHQ), located in the Province of Bolívar, with the objective of presenting an assessment of the SOC stored in the soil of the APHQ according to the area of each geological formation found. Average COS values were obtained in Pisayambo formation with 145.37COS (Ton/ha), Glacier Deposits with 140.70COS (Ton/ha) and Yunguilla with 161.98COS (Ton/ha). The total value of COS is 64,340.63COS (Ton/APHQ). An economic valuation of the amount of CO2 not released into the atmosphere of the study area was estimated, obtaining 225,120.61 Ton/CO2. All these data were corroborated with the analyzes of the physicochemical properties that were carried out, demonstrating that the soil of this moor has acidity, ranging from 5.75 to 7.5, its electrical conductivity (EC), its humidity stores from 30% onwards, its type of texture from loam to silt loam that is suitable for agriculture, etc. All these indicators indicate that the APHQ is a carbon sink and can provide ecosystem services; however, there are areas of the three geological formations that can vary their amount of SOC, due to factors that degrade this soil. That is why sustainable strategies were proposed to care for the paramo ecosystem and positively contribute to climate change.