YEPES-QUINTERO, Adriana et al. ESTIMATION OF CARBON STOCKS AND LOSS BY DEFORESTATION IN THE FORESTS OF ANTIOQUIA, COLOMBIA. []. , 33, 95, pp.193-208. ISSN 0304-3584.

Tropical forests store large amounts of carbon (C₂) in their biomass, thus playing a key role in the global cycle of this element. The carbon storage capability of tropical forests is largely determined by biophysical factors. However, in recent years tropical deforestation has converted this ecosystem into a source of carbon emissions into the atmosphere. In this study, our goal was to evaluate the distribution of above-ground biomass (AGB) along a complex environmental gradient of natural forests in the Department of Antioquia (Colombia); as well as to assess the potential amount of carbon released into the atmosphere by deforestation between 2000 and 2007. We used structural information (diameter, aerial biomass) from 16 1-ha permanent plots where woody vegetation was sampled. Deforestation in the department was quantified using MODIS terra images obtained from 2000-2007. We found a negative relationship between AGB and altitude in natural forests in Antioquia. Mean AGB was 244 ± 63 Mg ha-1 and the deforestation rate in the 2000-2007 period was 25, 279 ha yr-1. During this time, 176,950 ha of natural forest were lost, which means a total of 79,161.29 Gg CO₂ were released into the atmosphere. In Antioquia, problems such as deforestation may result in a considerable destruction to this ecosystem, causing the loss of important ecosystem services, such as carbon storage.

: above-ground biomass; altitudinal gradient; Andean tropical forests; carbon stocks; potential CO₂ emissions; permanent plots.

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