Carbon storage on an ecosystem of the South American desert: The case of Lomas de Amancaes (Lima-Perú)

Carbon capture is a fundamental process in climate regulation that counteracts global warming. This study estimated the carbon stocks in Lomas de Amancaes, an ecosystem of the South American desert in Lima (Peru). Soil (0 - 20 cm deep) and aerial plant biomass samples were taken to measure the stored carbon in both compartments subsequently. The results indicated that the amount of stored carbon in this ecosystem was 8,593.97 tC (39,29 tC/ha) and it was higher in the soil (37.85 tC/ha) than in the aerial biomass (1.44 tC/ha); when comparing the storage in different altitudinal ranges (300 - 750 m.a.s.l), no significant differences were found (p>0.05). Compared with other ecosystems on the Peruvian Coast it was higher than that found in the Tillandsia areas (3.6 tC/ha) but lower than many wetland plant communities (38.47 - 305.37 tC/ha). Stored carbon amounts in the study area were similar to the reserves found in several desert ecosystems in the world (with values ranging between 0.15 and 55.99 tC/ha in African deserts, the Sahel transition zone, the Negev Desert, Chinese deserts, the Mojave Desert, La Paz watershed and Los Planes basin) with exceptions such as the temperate deserts of Central Asia, the Acacia Savannah Woodlands and Tunisia (40.40 - 159.20 tC/ha). These results represent one of the first estimates of carbon stocks in the South American Pacific desert and provide valuable data for their conservation.