Economic valuation of soil organic carbon stock in the Amazon Forest-Cerrado transition, Brazil1

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Abstract
The average annual deforestation rate in the Amazon Forest-Cerrado transition zone is approximately 2,098.08 km2, restricting numerous ecosystem services. There is a pressing need to develop policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the region. The objective of this study was to evaluate the economic potential of total soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks in different soil types and depths in the Amazon Forest and Cerrado biomes, considering the social cost of carbon (SC-CO2) derived by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Soil samples were collected at 2,869 points, distributed across 178 municipalities in the Amazon Forest and Cerrado biomes in Maranhão state, Brazil, in the 0-5, 5-15, and 15-30 cm layers. To carry out the soil organic carbon valuation, two main approaches were combined: accounting framework and economic valuation. The results show that in the Amazon Forest, the total SOC stored in the 0-30 cm layer has an estimated value of 76.52 billion dollars, while in the Cerrado the amount corresponds to 143.73 billion dollars. SOC stock valuation represents an important strategy for sustainable agricultural production, which seeks global food security and at the same time the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions.
Funding Information
  • Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (001)
  • Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (PA No. 3554/23)
  • Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (BPV-00350/22, BINST-08128/22 and POS-GRAD-02423/21)
  • Fundação Agrisus (001)
  • Fundação Agrisus (PA No. 3554/23)
  • Fundação Agrisus (BPV-00350/22, BINST-08128/22 and POS-GRAD-02423/21)
  • Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa e ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico do Maranhão (001)
  • Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa e ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico do Maranhão (PA No. 3554/23)
  • Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa e ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico do Maranhão (BPV-00350/22, BINST-08128/22 and POS-GRAD-02423/21)

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