Structure and Carbon Capture of a Temperate Mixed Forest across Altitudinal Gradients in Northern Mexico

Luis U. Castruita-Esparza, Raúl Narváez-Flores, Mélida Gutiérrez (), Aldo S. Mojica-Guerrero, Gerónimo Quiñones-Barraza and Javier Hernández-Salas
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Luis U. Castruita-Esparza: Facultad de Ciencias Agrícolas y Forestales, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, Km 2.5 Carretera Delicias-Rosales, Delicias 33000, Mexico
Raúl Narváez-Flores: Facultad de Ciencias Agrícolas y Forestales, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, Km 2.5 Carretera Delicias-Rosales, Delicias 33000, Mexico
Mélida Gutiérrez: School of Earth, Environment and Sustainability, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO 65897, USA
Aldo S. Mojica-Guerrero: Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Linares 67700, Mexico
Gerónimo Quiñones-Barraza: Campo Experimental Valle del Guadiana, CIR—Norte Centro, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Durango 34170, Mexico
Javier Hernández-Salas: Facultad de Ciencias Agrícolas y Forestales, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, Km 2.5 Carretera Delicias-Rosales, Delicias 33000, Mexico

Land, 2024, vol. 13, issue 4, 1-17

Abstract: Maximizing the ability of forests to capture carbon (C) from the atmosphere is critical to mitigate global warming. This is a daunting task as the warming climate is adversely affecting forests with increasing forest fires, pests, and a shift to tree species that can tolerate the newer climate conditions. A large (about 1 million hectares) mixed pine–oak forest in Chihuahua, Mexico, was characterized via 151 plots to determine its floristic diversity and biomass with respect to species, age (tree diameter), and at four altitudinal gradients equally distributed between 1850 and 2850 masl. Higher richness and diversity were found at the altitudinal gradient of 2101–2350 m with 36 species and a Shannon’s index (H’) of 2.95, and the lowest at 2601–2850 m with 17 species and H’ of 2.37. The Sorensen Index showed a high similarity in species composition, with the highest values (71% to 79%) obtained for the 2351–2600 gradient. C storage of the mixed forest increased with altitude from 7.85 Mg C ha −1 in the 1850–2100 m gradient to 14.82 Mg C ha −1 in the 2601–2850 m gradient. C storage in oak decreased with altitude while C storage of pine increased. Viable strategies to maximize C storage under changing climate conditions are discussed, including social safeguards and sale of carbon credits.

Keywords: carbon storage; aboveground mass; importance value index; temperate forest; Pinus sp.; Quercus sp. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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