Diversidad y servicios ecosistémicos en coberturas arbóreas de la zona de traslape del Parque Natural Nacional de Macuira, La Guajira – Colombia

Abstract

The present study evaluated the ecosystem services (ES) associated with the woody vegetation located in the overlap zone characterized as Tropical Dry Forest in the serrania Macuira where communities of the original Wayuu people settle. The open shrubland (OS) and dense shrubland (DS) vegetation covers were evaluated, three sampling points per cover were selected, in which circular plots with an area of ​​1.000 m² were identified, for a total of 3.000 m² per vegetation cover and in each plot, the inventory of the tree component with DBH > 5 cm was carried out. In the study, 20 woody species were found, belonging to 12 families, Fabaceae/Faboideae, Fabaceae/Mimosoideae, Fabaceae/Caesalpinioideae and Cactaceae were the most represented families. The species with the highest dominance in OS was Prosopis juliflora (IVI 157,3% and concentrated 51,7% of individuals) and in DS Handroanthus billbergii (IVI 116,8% and concentrated 32% of individuals); the biodiversity indices did not show statistical differences between the vegetal covers; however, the accumulation curves suggest that in terms of richness the covers differ. The ES carbon storage showed significant statistical differences, the DS accumulated 25,4 ± 2,2 t C ha^-1 and the OS 9,9 ± 2,2 t C ha-1, which means a monetary value per hectare of $466,5 USD and $182,5 USD. Fifteen species with a use value greater than three were determined, the most important uses being forage and construction (94 % of the species), followed by fuel, sawmilling and fruits for animal feed.