ESTIMATION AND ECONOMIC VALUATION OF CO2 USING THE SOFTWARE I-TREE IN COFFEE AGROECOSYSTEMS IN VERACRUZ, MEXICO

Abstract

Background: Coffee plantations under shade contribute significantly to carbon storage and sequestration because they can capture CO2, reducing its presence in the air; however, there are few estimates of their potential and economic value. Objective: To determine the species used as shade trees and estimate the storage and sequestration of aerial carbon, as well as the economic value of carbon capture in three coffee plantations in Coatepec, Veracruz, México with a total area of 4 ha using the i-tree software. Methodology:  A census of shade trees was carried out in 6 plots of 20 x 20 m in the three sites. The species, diameter at breast height (DBH), crown diameter in two directions: north-south and east-west, height of the live crown and the height of the crown base. crown percentage, dieback percentage, and crown light exposure. The census data was recorded in a Microsoft Excel 2019 spreadsheet and subsequently exported to the i-Tree ECO v6 software. Results: One hundred two trees corresponding to 17 families and 20 species were recorded, of which the most abundant were in site 1 Inga vera (57 %), in site 2 Alchornea latifolia (21 %), and in site 3 Pinus chiapensis (28 %). The estimated carbon stored for the three sites was 1,215.21 t CO2e, and the annual sequestration was 63.01 t CO2e. The carbon stored in the three coffee plantations has an estimated economic value of $394 940 MXN, and the sequestered carbon has a value of $19 695 MXN. Implications: In the long term, carbon capture could provide significant monetary value if a proposal is developed for carbon sales or programs for the payment of environmental services in the coffee plantations of Coatepec, Veracruz. Conclusions: This study contributed to determining the diversity of shade trees for carbon capture and demonstrating their monetary value as a strategy for conserving the tree canopy.