2017
Carbon sequestration in protected areas: A case study of an Abies religiosa (H.B.K.) Schlecht. et Cham Forest, Pablo I. Fragoso-López, Rodrigo Rodríguez-Laguna, Elena M. Otazo-Sánchez, César A. González-Ramírez, José René Valdéz-Lazalde, Hermann J. Cortés-Blobaum, Ramón Razo-Zárate Forests 2017, 8(11), 429; doi:10.3390/f8110429
Abstract
The effects of global climate change have highlighted forest ecosystems as a key element in reducing the amount of atmospheric carbon through photosynthesis. The objective of this study was to estimate the amount of carbon content and its percentage capture in a protected Abies religiosa forest in which the study area was zoned with satellite image analysis. Dendrometric and epidometric variables were used to determine the volume and increase of aerial biomass, and stored carbon and its capture rate using equations. The results indicate that this forest contains an average of 105.72 MgC ha?1, with an estimated sequestration rate of 1.03 MgC ha?1 yr?1. The results show that carbon capture increasing depends on the increase in volume. Therefore, in order to achieve the maximum yield in a forest, it is necessary to implement sustainable forest management that favors the sustained use of soil productivity.