Abstract

RAZO-ZARATE, Ramón et al. Biomass estimation and carbon stock in fir trees affected by fire in "El Chico" National Park, Hidalgo, México. Madera bosques [online]. 2013, vol.19, n.2, pp.73-86. ISSN 2448-7597.

In "El Chico", National Park, in Hidalgo, México is a study was carried out with the objective of estimating the biomass and carbon stored in the dead trees standing, in the live adult trees and seedlings established in natural form of Abies religiosa "oyamel" after 12 years of a forest fire of superficial type that affected 30,34 hectares. A forest inventory was made on 15 circular sites of 1000 m² each, distributed in a systematic way, in order to measure the variables of normal diameter and height. To determine the biomass the density value of fir wood was used (360 kg/m³) and for the carbon coefficient the Solids TOC Analyzer® was utilized, obtaining a value of 0,45. The generated equations to estimate the biomass and carbon in trees of Abies religiosa in an area affected by a forest fire were B=0,06463 * DN^2,38322 and C=0,029083 * DN^2,38322 respectively, showing a good adjustment (R²=0,99); these equations are considered to be suitable and reliable to be used in damaged areas with similar conditions, for the same species and for regions such as Natural Protected Areas where it is not possible to use destructive methods. In 30,34 damaged hectares of the "El Chico" National Park, there were a total of 665,05 tons of stock carbon not consumed by the fire, to which must be added a current capture of 297,33 tons of carbon by the seedling established in the twelve years from the disaster.

Keywords : Abies religiosa; dead trees; alometric equations; fire forest; seedlings.