Evaluation of carbon storage in a traditional amazonian silvopastoral system and its contribution to climate change mitigation Assessment of carbon storage in a traditional Amazonian silvopastoral system and its contribution to climate change mitigation

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Published: Mar 19, 2026
Keywords:
Carbon sequestration, Agroforestry, Sustainable livestock farming, Climate mitigation

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Alex López-Alban
Universidad Estatal Amazónica. Centro Experimental de Investigación y Producción Amazónica, Ecuador.
https://orcid.org/0009-0004-4445-3236
Lisbeth Moreno-López
Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo, Ecuador.
https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0289-8892
Aracelli Medina-Gahona
Universidad Estatal Amazónica. Centro Experimental de Investigación y Producción Amazónica, Ecuador.
https://orcid.org/0009-0006-6229-2450
Diego Ureta-Leones
Universidad Estatal Amazónica. Centro Experimental de Investigación y Producción Amazónica, Ecuador.
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1036-7642

Abstract

Silvopastoral systems (SPS) integrate tree, herbaceous, and livestock components into a single production unit, promoting environmental and economic sustainability. This study aimed to evaluate carbon storage in a traditional Amazonian silvopastoral system and its contribution to climate change mitigation. The research was conducted at the Amazonian Research and Production Experimental Center (CEIPA), Napo Province, Ecuador. Three 1,000 m² plots were established, in which a floristic inventory of the herbaceous and tree strata was carried out. Forest biomass was estimated using allometric equations, and forage biomass was evaluated using the square frame method (1 m²). Stored carbon was estimated considering a carbon coefficient of 47% of dry biomass. In addition, soil samples were collected to a depth of 30 cm to determine soil organic carbon content. Sixty-one individuals were recorded, distributed among 14 forest species and 9 botanical families. The Lauraceae family had the highest number of species. Herbaceous cover was dominated by Brachiaria decumbens (65%) and B. brizantha (30%), with the presence of Arachis pintoi (3.5%) and Desmodium spp. (1.5%). The largest carbon reservoir was the soil (34.72 t ha ⁻ ¹), followed by the forest component (25.15 t ha ⁻ ¹) and herbaceous component (6 t ha ⁻ ¹ ), accumulating a total of 65.87 t ha ⁻ ¹ of carbon. It is concluded that traditional silvopastoral systems (SPS) in the Ecuadorian Amazon have high potential as carbon sinks, contributing significantly to climate change mitigation.

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López-Alban, A., Moreno-López, L., Medina-Gahona , A., & Ureta-Leones, D. (2026). Evaluation of carbon storage in a traditional amazonian silvopastoral system and its contribution to climate change mitigation: Assessment of carbon storage in a traditional Amazonian silvopastoral system and its contribution to climate change mitigation. Revista Cubana De Ciencias Forestales, 14, e950. Retrieved from https://cfores.upr.edu.cu/index.php/cfores/article/view/950
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Vol. 14 (2026): January-December
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Scientific articles
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

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