Valoración de servicios ecosistémicos de almacenamiento de carbono en los suelos del páramo ubicado al norte del Bosque Protector Cubilán, provincia de Cañar

Abstract

Páramo ecosystem store in its soil large amounts of organic carbon, due to low temperatures which reduce the decomposition of organic matter. Carbon storage is globally considered as an important ecosystem service, for controlling the level of carbon dioxide emitted to the atmosphere. This study financially assesses the amount of organic carbon stored in the paramo soil (757.83 ha) located in the north of Cubilán Protected Forest, in southern Ecuador, through the method described by Castro (2011) to get the cost of avoided damage globally due to climate change. In addition, intervened and natural soil samples were classified, determining that paramo intervened soil loses an average of 26% of its capacity of carbon storage. In contrast with natural soil, economic loss is about 6%. Although the difference does not seem high, the fact that carbon loss potential increase with anthropogenic activities development must be considered. This study also integrates environmental perception evaluation in Zhindilig, Virgenpamba and Aguilan communes, using purposive sampling to demonstrate that paramo environmental services are well perceived.