Carbon storage during the development stages of Pinus patula Schiede ex Schltdl. & Cham. in the Sierra Alta of Hidalgo

Introduction: Forests provide environmental goods and services associated with the forest ecosystem, such as carbon sequestration, which has market potential to contribute to profitability and sustainability of forestry activities. Objective: To estimate biomass and aboveground carbon during the development stages of a Pinus patula Schiede ex Schltdl. & Cham. forest, cultivated in the ejido Atopixco, Zacualtipán, Hidalgo, to know the potential of the species for climate change mitigation. Materials and methods: Aerial biomass was estimated by non-destructive method, using direct measurement of height and diameter at breast height. The volume estimated for the trees sampled, at each stage of development, was multiplied by the basic wood density and the carbon coefficient of 50 % was used. Results and discussion: The average biomass of mature trees was 294.8 kg. Estimates of aboveground carbon at the developmental stages of P. patula were as follows: brinzal (0.94 Mg C·ha-1), monte bravo (3.73 Mg C·ha-1), vardascal (5.05 Mg C·ha-1), latizal (18.18 Mg C·ha-1) and fustal (81.40 Mg C·ha-1). The non-destructive method allowed reliable estimates of carbon content of this species. Conclusion: Carbon storage quantification by stages of development of P. patula is useful marketing strategies of environmental services for carbon sequestration, which has imminent market potential to mitigate the impacts of climate change.