Capture and Storage of Carbon in the Dry Forests of Pomac (Lambayeque, Peru) to Improve the Focus of Reforestation on New Ecosystem Services

Abstract

The estimation of aerial forest carbon storage and capacity (CCS) is a fundamental instrument to evaluate the application of forest management measures and soil recovery under the approach of use in new ecosystem services (CCUS). The research has aimed to evaluate the capture and storage of carbon in the dry forests of Pomac (Lambayeque, Peru) to improve the approach of reforestation in new ecosystem services. For this, the non-destructive method was used, 15 random plots were selected, the tree species were identified, counted and measured, taking into account the diameter at breast height (DBH), the results indicated a total accumulation of aerial biomass ( dry) of 75.09 t/ha and a mass of stored carbon of 37,545 t/ha. The highest contribution of aerial biomass was dominated by three species: Prosopis pallida H.B.K. for Arnata ferreyra (carob tree) (90.99%) > Capparis ovalifolia (Vichayo) (6.13 %) > Capparis scabrida (Sapote) (2.02 %). The quadratic models to estimate the aerial biomass (AGB) of each species and of the plots studied based on the DBH were robust (R2>0.7) and significant and demonstrated a great payment potential in relation to the carbon credit in the Voluntary Market of Carbon. These results can be used to improve forest management and the recovery of degraded soils under the approach of new ecosystem uses that include the CCUS approach.